GERMANY'S PLEA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 74, 29 March 1933, Page 7

GERMANY'S PLEA.

Injustice of Peace Treaties

Raised.

DISARMAMENT POSITION,

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received 1 p.m.)

BUGBY, March 23'. j In the House of Commons in a statement on the present position of the Disarmament Conference, Sir John Simon snid that the General Commission yesterday unanimously decided to take the British draft convention as the basis of subsequent discussions, delegations retaining tho right to propose modifications, amendments and additions. The conference then adjourned until April 25, when it would examine the convention chapter by chapter, and article by article.

The Foreign Secretary added: "This British initiative, which involves the pursuit of a new method —the placing before the conference of a comprehensive scheme in a convention form so that each question may be studied in relation to other necessary questions — was received with general satisfaction as giving the best prospect of reaching an agreed solution."

A Geneva message states that the German delegate, Herr Nadolny, based his speech- at the Disarmament Commission, on the British plan, on a quotation from Mr. Mac Donald's opening speech insisting that the basis of ultimate agreement was "give and take." Herr Nadolny maintained that as Germany already was a disarmed nation the disarmament convention must first abolish all weapons forbidden to Germany or allow such weapons to Germany.

The present insecurity of Europe was the result of the rigours and injustices of the peace treaties, said Herr Nadolny. The British plan did not provide for enough disarmament.

M. Dovgalevsky, on behalf of Russia, emphasised that the Soviet could not remain indifferent to proposals for a reduction of non-European armies owing to such a neighbour as Japan.

Senor Madariaga, on behalf of Spain, declared that the British air proposals were far too modest. He called for a total suppression of military and naval aviation.