GERMANY'S STATUS.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 250, 21 October 1924, Page 5

GERMANY'S STATUS.

POWERS MORE FRIENDLY. FRANCE SOUNDS PEACE CALL. CONCILIATION IN THE AIR. PRUSSIAN ON WAR'S HORROR. (By Cable.—Fress Association.— Copyright.) LONDON, October 20. A message from Paris states that in a speech at a Radical-Socialist party congress at Boulogne, the French Premier, M. Herriot. claimed that as a result of his (iovernment's endeavours to end the isolation of France, her position was now unassailable. lie could discern no hostile prejudice against France among the representatives of the nations who recently assembled at Geneva. France's relations with Germany herself were easier. This was shown by tiie first stage in the Franco-German economic negotiations. Continuing M. Herriot said the Hepublican spirit had won a certain success in Germany, but France could not yet feel reassured. Germany still seemed to hesitate between two paths. The Nationalists were busy nreuaring youths for military service, while associations of ex-soldiers remained in relation with the Reichswehr, and certain fetes almost smacked of mobilisation manoeuvres, lie hoped the democratic spirit would finally prevail in Germany. THE CALL OF PEACE. France had at any rate sounded the call of peace, said M. Herriot. She was ready to resume relations with Russia. The Premier said he placed financial reform in the forefront of his home policy. Mr. Seymour Gilbert, the permanent Agent-General for Reparation, has arrived in Paris from America. After conferring with the Reparation Commission he will go to Berlin in a few days. A message from Brussels says that Belgium has replied to Germany regarding the latter country's admission to the League of Nations. The reply states that Belgium sees no objection to Germany occupying n nermanent seat on the Council of the League on the fulfilment by her of certain provisions. The Cologne correspondent of the "Morning Post" states that a meeting organised by the German Peace party was notable for the speeches delivered by Frencli and Prussian generals from the same platform. HOW WOULD THEY EIRE IT? I General yon Schonaich spoke of the horrors of war. He said he wondered how the people of Cologne would like their cathedral to suffer like the Rheims Cathedral had done. German soldiers had lain down their lives in the Great War believing it was for the Fatherland's honour. They little knew the lies and corruption which lay beyond that so-called honour. A message from Berlin says that in a j speech at Frankfurt-on-Main, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Herr Strc.semann, referred to the recent Zeppelin i I flight to America. He said he hoped . ! Germany would be permitted to continue the construction of airships unrestrictedly. All the States which were represented on the Council of the League of Nations 1 had declared in favour of Germany having a permanent seat on the Council, said Herr Stresemann. But a point I still to be discussed was that Germany could not take part in wars or blockades, under orders from the League, so long as she was the only disarmed State , amid neighbours armed to the teeth. I A telegram from Stockholm states that the new Prime Minister of Sweden, M. Branting, announcess that his first j aim will be to reduce armaments. He i will not, however, propose the ratification of the Geneva protocol until the , majority of the European States have accepted it. —(A. and N.Z.—Reuter.)