AIR CLEARED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 225, 22 September 1932, Page 7

AIR CLEARED.

AMERICA AND EUROPE No Interest in German Equality Claim, HOOVER STATEMENT. (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) ■f WASHINGTON, September 21. In what is considered to be a clarification of Press reports from Paris to the effect that the United States Ambassador to France, Mr. W. E. Edge, and Senator D. A. Reed have advised French officials., of America's support of Britain and France in the German arms controversy, the President, Mr. Hoover, issued a statement yesterday. This stated: "With reference to Press dispatches from Paris on the German arms question the position of the United States Government is clear. The sole question in which this country is interested is that of reducing the armaments of the whole world, step by step.

"We weie not a party to the Versailles Treaty and its limitation of German arms. That is solely a European question. The United States already has declared that it. will take no part in that discussion.

"We are anxious that Germany shall continue to participate in the.Disarmament Conference, which now haa such promise of progress for the entire world, and that she shall lend her aid to this great purpose."

Diplomatic circles interpret the statement as what amounts to a, personal effort on the part of the President to prevent the breaking up of the Disarmament Conference and as a virtual appeal to Germany not to withdraw from the negotiations.

■ The unofficial opinion is expressed in Government circles that the Government considers Germany's demands totally inconsistent with Mr. Hoover's one-third reduction proposal. Further, it is feared that Germany's attitude possibly will jeopardise the tentative agreements already reached at Geneva.

BRITAIN ACCUSED

LLOYD GEORGE'S ASSAULT. (Received 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, September 21. "The National. Government's disarmament policy has brought Europe to the verge of war," declared Mr. Lloyd George at a Cardiganshire by-election meeting. "They have contrived to get Italy, Germany and Russia against us. Britain's only Ally is France, the greatest military Power on the Continent."