ARMS EQUALITY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 209, 3 September 1932, Page 9

ARMS EQUALITY.

GERMANY'S CLAIM. EUROPE STIRRED. Seething French Excitement At Reported Demands. PRESS ASKED TO KEEP COOL. (United P.A.—Electric Telegrnph—Copyright) (Keceivod 12 noon.) LONDON, September 2. The political world and the Press of Europe —especially in France, Germany and Britain—are stirred by Germany's latest claim to arms equality. v. France, most of yesterday, was seething with excitement. The Prime Minister, Mi Harriot, personally asked th.j Press to be cool pending the Government's careful examination of the matter. The French Cabinet sat nearly four hours to discuss this, and its plans for rentes conversion. Earlier in the day M, Herriot had held a long conversation with Mr. Ronnkl Campbell, British Minister at Paris, who is in charge of the British Embassy in the absence of the Ambassador, Lord Tvrrell, who is on leave. The development has given rise to many mis-statements. In the first place, there was no Xote in the strict sense. What happened was that .Baron von Neurath, having expounded Germany's point of view to the French Ambassador at Berlin on Monday, handed him an aide memoire (otherwise a document embodying the substance of Germany's demands). In the normal course of diplomatic procedure this would have been treated confidentially. The French Government would have replied, not directly, but through the German Ambassador at Paris. Britain Receives Copy of Demands. The British Government has received a copy of the German aide memoire which was handed to the French Government on the subject of the reorganisar tion of the Reicliswehr, and the insistence on Germany's right to possession of arms permitted to other nations but denied to Germany under the disarmament clauses of the Versailles Treaty. The British Government has the document under consideration and is watching developments with close interest. German official circles profess to regard the publication of the details of the aide memoire in Paris as a distinct breach of confidence. The Paris newspaper "Le Temps" says the opening of the dossier of Germany's secret armaments and constant treaty violations would edify international opinion regarding Germany's true aim. "Journal des Debates" eays Germany rearmed would recommence her unsuccessful operation of 1914. "Le Journal" says Germany asks Prance to enter into frank, confidential conversation. If France js willing Germany will inform the British and United States Governments who might at a -given point participate in the discussions. Germany agrees to go without arms prohibited in other countries, but insists upon her right to what those others are allowed to possess. The document concludes by saying that copies are being forwarded to other Powers. This, if correct, accounts for the flutter in diplomatic circles in London and elsewhere. Principle of Equality. The Paris correspondent of "The Times" says that although the text of the German aide memoire is not available, it can be stated definitely that it is concerned only with the principle of equality, not with details. The German point of view ie shown to be that while the German Government favours the largest possible measure of disarmament on the lines of the disarmament clauses of the Peace Treaty, it accepts this principle only on the basis of equality of rights. The document does not contain a definite threat to withdraw from the Dhurmament Conference in default of satisfaction, but it is recalled that during the recent discussions at Geneva, Germany plainly intimated to the other Powers that the question of equality of rights must he settled before the conference reassembled, or Gormany could not. further participate in the proceedings.

It was added that Germany was prepared to begin conversations immediately with any of the Powers. This offer, which met with no response, is repeated in the aide memoire. It is understood that the French Cabinet in principle has rejected Germany's proposal and will refuse to undertake bilateral negotiations. It is stated in Paris -that the British Government agrees with the French view that the/aide memoire is inopportune; moreover, that it is a matter for all the signatories to the Versailles Treaty.