DISARMAMENT.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19413, 12 September 1928, Page 14

DISARMAMENT.

M. BRIAND'S SPEECH.

GERMANY CRITICISED.

POSSESSES A BIG ARMY.

(USITBD. PRESS ABSOCIATIOK—BY -ELECTRIC TELEOBATH—COPTBIGHT.)

GENEVA, September 10.

M. Briand, replying to Dr. Mueller, said: "We are not a party of politicians sitting in an international congress, but men taking into ■ accoup every factor affecting world peace. ; 1 often Have been accused of being ; a mere speech-maker andnot am a not action I am confident that Dr. Mueller does not -share that view . . The - Locarno Pact, he said, was not a speech. Dr: Mueller had demanded general disarmament. He had ex claimed: "Look at Germany! Why do not all the other States too. "It is inexact to say that Germanj is entirely disarmed," said M Briand. "She possesses an army of 100,UWofficers and non-cofeimissioned men to form the army's cadre and behind them in an immense, magnificent reservoir of trained and courageous meli, who showed such' heroism and military skill in the Great War and are capable of rejoining the colours for anothert?n years. Dr. Mueller himself would admit that if he regarded the matter from another viewpoint than propaganda) After alluding to Germany s vast industrial resources, which were, capable of rapid adaptation to war purposes, M. Briand said that England and France had s done all that w ® s possible for world peace, but had been singularly unfortunate. They had tried to overcome difficulties relating , to naval disarmament and produced not a treaty, not an agreement, but a certain rapprochement, which might promote disarmament. ,"But what an outcrv arose!" We .have been told that secret clauses and secret agreements existed, though all. we did was to to assist the cause of disarmament. Competition in armaments had al-, ready be'en halted.- There was no government in Europe which was daring to propose an increase either in naval or military forces. "It is easy to say that nothing remains to prevent disarmament, but'every stateman feels a responsibility which: is deeper than ponular enthusiasm, said M. Briand. The atmosphere of security must bo undisturbed. There is a country in Europe where war material increases, despite its theatrical gestures favouring " disarmament." —Australian Press Association.

BERLIN INDIGNANT. ." ■■ • ' ' •? J':: COMMENT IN GERMAN PRESS. (Received September 11th, 5.5 p.m.) \BERLIN, September 10. -. ' M; Briand'B - speech at Geneva v has terrify shocked Berlin political circles* German correspondents . have wired their newspapers*the strongest observa-. tions. Tfie "AUgenieine Zeitung" says : The speech/.;was - malicious, dogmatic,, and It r will make ' further trouble, apd has given the rapprochement its heaviest blow. ' •The "Lokal-AnEeiger" says:,"A more wicked attack could not be imagmed. The "Deutscher Tageszeitung , says that M. Briand has at last shown his real face. -He has taunted Dr. Mueller with insolenbe, which must have reminded Dr. Mueller of his humiliation when he signed the Versailles Treaty. The "Berlin Courier" says that the speech indicates a new 'situation arising from the Anglo-French rapprochement. . . . Other newspapers use phrases sucn as "a devastating speech is this made by Locarno Briand," "the German delegation is in consternation, "the end of a Franco-German understanding."—Australian Press Association. M. BRIAND EXPLAINS. SPEECH CAUSES COMMOTION. GENEVA, September 10.

M. Briand, in a statement to journalisfcs, expressed surprise that-his speech had produced a commotion. He explained that he did not intend to convey the impression that Germany had. bemcose intentions. If. genersil armament had progressed so litUe rt was ' because such a ■ srtall or security had been achieved. France s •constant efforts were for peace. Lite disarmament problem was unsoivable without a frank\speech..lt would be a dishonour to ■ France if sh© discontinned her toward disarmament) owing'to Russia's >attitude. - _ M. Briand, referring to the AngloFrench naval, compromise. ,i»id that nottody was satisfied witji it. There was little hope under these conditions that the Preparatory Committee wOiud have any better fortune and thus render ' a Disarmament Conference ,possible. People said: that the compromise contained secret clauses. It. was a simple agreement to help naval disarmament. —-Australian Press Association, United Service.

LEAGUE ACTIVITIES.

GENEVA, September 10.

The election for the three non-perman-ent seats on the Council, for which twenty-six iß' an absolute majority, resulted: Spain 46, Persia 40, and; Venez- ] uela 35. ; Siam polled only s!x7 M. Briand participated in the Assembly's general discussion. His speech, which laßted ninety, minutes, was delivered with his usual yigoiir and eloquence and terminated with the atomary. fervent i reception from .the - representative's of Latin - America - ., and those of the Little Entente. He said that t) League had already prevented a number of open conflicts. Without the i : there would have been no Locarno Paris Pacts. He described the Russian proposal for general arid total disarcia* mentas a theatrical gesture. Herr Mueller (Germany) had said that at> long as Germany was disarmed everybody could disarm, added M. Briand, "we similarly looted t this problem two years , ago. To-day, it » 'more; complex. I am sure O- Mueller will not say'that Germany is completely disanned.'fs Peace, he said, could only be permanently established' when - there was real international understanding.—AustralianPress Association, United Serr vice. • • . ... ,