NO RE-ARMING

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 54, Issue 2, 13 October 1933, Page 5

NO RE-ARMING

THE POSITION OF GERMANY.

ATTITUDE OF THE POWERS.

SOME REORGANISATION LIKELY. (United Press Association—Copyright). (Received This Day, 11.55 a.m.) LONDON, October 12. Although conversations between leading delegates at Geneva are continuing there is no longer any likelihood of postponement of the General Commission of the Disarmament Conference, which will meet on Monday. This view is strongly supported by the British Government. It is understood that the conversations revealed that it is fully shared by France and America, who are equally determined to • push ahead with the work of the Conference.

It is understood that there is general agreement between the British, French and United States, delegates that there must be no rearmament of Germany in the broad sense of the term. The Geneva correspondent of "The Times" says that this would not exclude a certain measure of reorganisation, of German armaments in the process of adopting them to the quirements of a short-service army of 200,000 men, which would be different from i those of the present Beichswher. Official. .Wireless. .■.-;.'•

FULL MEASURE OF AGREEMENT.

BRITISH AND FRENCH VIEWS

LONDON, October 11. Sir John Simon (Secretary oi State for Foreign. Affairs) reached Geneva this morning and was visited shortly after his arrival by M. Boncour (French Foreign Minister). It is understood that Sir John Simon acquainted M. Boncour with the decisions regarding Britain's attitude toward disarmament reached at the Cabinet meeting on Monday and that a very full measure of agreement exists in regard to the future procedure between the two Governments. According to the "Morning Post" correspondent "now or never" is the dominant tone in disarmament circles at Geneva, all the delegations being agreed that the most critical phase of the Conference has been reached. The British and Americans, in particular, says the correspondent, emphasise the absolute necessity of arriving at a convention signed by all the participating States. The recent speech by Mr Baldwin, emphasising the grave danger of failure to do so, and,Britain's determination to fulfil all her pledges, made a great impression on all delegates. The leading British, French, and United States delegates had a meeting, that lasted about an hour. According to a Press message from Geneva it was stated at the conclusion that complete agreement had been reached, and that re-arming by Germany during the preliminary period to be provided for by the proposed Disarmament Convention would not be countenanced. M. Boncour will return to Paris tonight to .report to his Government. — British Official Wireless.

DISASTROUS FOR JAPAN. NAVAL ARMAMENTS RACE. TOKIO, October 11. Mr Wakatsuk (formerly Japanese delegate at Geneva), declared that failure of the naval conference in 1935 would precipitate a new JapaneseAmerican armament race, which would be "disastrous to Japan. TWO YEARS SUFFICIENT. PROBATIONARY PERIOD. LONDON, October 12. The French correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph" at Geneva, says that Sir John Simon thinks that a probationary period of two years is sufficient.