The Ttalian delegate, Signor Soragna, also" endorsed he state: ment and expressed hope and confidence that the world, as did Italy, would find in the programme out-Tined by Sir John Simon a basis for subsequent work, The Belgian delegate, Mr. Bourquin, also declared that it was ab-Solutely essential that the efforts of the conference should not end in rearmament, He was convinced that the first stage, such as contemplated, was Indispensable in. the present Nate of affairs, as it would give experience in the working of the convention.
"AS to the length of the first period, Mfr, Paul Boncour (France) Indicated. that the period of four years to which Sir John Simon re-erred in his speech had not been selected arbitrarily. Tt was based oD number of considerations to which the French delegation attached great texts of telegrams exchanged between Baron von Neurath and Mr. Arthur Henderson, President of the Conference, re also included.
The White Paper only puts in permanent official form what previously been published and is de-Higned to show that there is no room for misunderstanding. Tt is. hoped thatthe controversy Will now be al> Towed to. drop.
For the first time since Sir John linon returned from Geneva he saw German Ambassador to-day and discussed disarmament problems.—Reuter and Wireless,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.