SPA CONFERENCE.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16882, 9 July 1920, Page 7

SPA CONFERENCE.

GERMANY AND DISARMAMENT. (By Cable—Press As«ociation—Copyright.) (Australian and N.&. Cable Association.) SPA, Jmy C. Herr Gersler (German Minister of Defence), in an interview, said he intended to retire from the Conference unless more favourable terms wero granted. Mo would not insist on Germany retaining an army of' 200,000, but a strong force was necessary, ana the reduction to 100,000, as provided by the Peace Treaty, must be permitted l to be carried out slowly. (Aeuter'a Telegram*.) (Received Julv J>th, 1.25 a.m.} "LONDON, July 7. A Spa communique rrporte that at a fully attended sitting of the Conference, including the Aides' Military jyid Naval Advisers, the German Minister of Defence reported in regard to the execution of the military clauses of the Treaty. Herr Simons made a supplementary statement. It transpired from this that the German Government. attempted to attribute the delays in this matter to the economic situation, especially- as regards reducing military effectives, alleging that it was impossible to disband them more rapidly because the men thus swelled the ranks of the unemployed.