MORE COMPLEX.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 215, 11 September 1928, Page 9

MORE COMPLEX.

! DISARMAMENT PLAN. Russian Proposal Theatrical Gesture. BRIAND'S ELOQUENCE. (Australian Press Assn.—United Service.) (Received 11 a.m.) GENEVA, September 10. M. Briand participated in the Assembly's general discussion. His speech, which lasted 90 minutes, was delivered with the usual vigour and eloquence and terminated with the customary fervent reception from the representatives of Latin America and. those of the Little Entente. He said the League had already prevented a number of open conflicts and without the League there would have been' no Locarno and ho Paris pact. He described the Russian proposal of general total disarmament as a theatrical gesture. Dr. Mueller, Germany, had said that as long as Germany was disarmed everybody" could disarm, "but," added M. Briand; "we similarly looked at this problem two years ago. To-day it is more complex. lam sure Dr. Mueller will not say that Germany is completely disarmed." Peace, he said, could be only permanently established when there was real international understanding. M. Briand, referring to the AngloFrench compromise, said that nobody was satisfied' with it. There was little hope, under these conditions, that the Preparatory Committee would have any better fortune and thus render a disarmament conference possible. People said the compromise contained secret clauses, but it was simply an agreement to help naval disarmament. I PLAIN SPEECH NEEDED. FRENCH ATTITUDE. (Australian Press Assn.—United Service.) (Received 12 noon.) GENEVA, September 10. M. Briand made a statement to journalists and expressed surprise that his speech produced a commotion. He explained that it was not intended to convey the impression that Germany had bellicose intentions. 'If general disarmament progressed so little it was because such a small degree of security had been achieved. France's constant efforts were towards peace, and the disarmament problem would not be solved without frank speech. It would dishonour France if she discontinued her efforts toward disarmament owing to Russia's attitude.