SMUGGLED ARMS

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LX, Issue 11046, 21 February 1933, Page 3

SMUGGLED ARMS

German Political Circles Amazed FRA N CO-BRITISH NOTE TO AUSTRIA. London, Feb. 19 Despatches from Berlin state that political circles in the German capital declare that the Franco-British Note to Austraia about the machineguns and rifles alleged to have been smuggled from Italy is absolutely amazing. They describe it as an act of violence toward a small Power, especially as the Disarmament Conference -is endeavouring to remove the discriminations attendant upon the existing peace treaties.

The diplomatic correspondent of the Daily Telegraph explains that the sole object of Britain’s share in the Note to Australia is to prevent a troublesome hut relatively minor issue becoming an open, acrimonious controversy before the League of Nations at a juncture when possibly it would prejudice the Disarmament Conference.

The Vienna of the same newspaper says the incident is likely to lead to a Cabinet crisis in Austria. The Government seems to have adopted a defiant attitude. Probably it will invite the company which owns the Hirtenberg factory to which the arms were sent, to return them to the sender. However, whether the company complies or not Is its own private affair. London, Feb. 20

The Paris correspondent of the Manchester Guardian says Prance’s relations with Germany, Italy and Hungary seem daily to grow more strained. ,

Violent anti-French polemics are appearing in the Italian and German press. These are ' being reported with great restraint in Paris.