DISARMAMENT

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 21050, 29 December 1933, Page 9

DISARMAMENT

FRENCH REPLY TO GERMANY MINISTERS PERTURBED DIRECT NEGOTIATIONS ONLY THROUGH EMBASSIES (U K ITS D rrf2S3 ASSOCIATION —TIT ELECTRIC TBL3GIUPH —COPTKIOnT.J (Received December 28, 8.5 p.m.) LONDON, December 2,8. The Paris correspondent of the "Daily Mail" says discussion of Germany's demand for armaments occupied most of the four and a half hours that a Cabinet meeting yesterday lasted. The majority of the Ministers were gravely perturbed, but decided that negotiations must be strictly limited to the Embassies. M. Camille Chautemps (Premier) said afterwards: "France is prepared, as always, to make positive proposals for disarmament which would prove her desire for peace." It is understood that the dispatch tent by M. Paul-Boncour (Minister tor Foreign Affairs* to M. FrancoisPoncet (French Ambassador in Berlin) emphasises, first, that Germany is asking for armaments, which is out of' place at a disarmament conference; second, that she has already taken steps to make .many of the; proposals actual facts; and third, that France refuses to enter into negotiations which are not shared by the other powers concerned. The dispatch also states that France is prepared to continue disarmament conversations, but that the organisation of general security by a reduction of armaments must be carried out within the framework of the League of Nations. This is tantamount to rejection of Herr Hitler's proposal for direct negotiations. ■M. Paul Hymans (Belgian Foreign Minister) conferred with M. Paul-Boncour, and they agreed on the necessity of French and Belgian unity on disarmament and foreign policy.

REPORTED FRENCH OFFER

REDUCTIONS OF STRENGTH PROPOSED REACHING GERMAN LEVEL (Received December 28, .10.40 p.m.) LONDON, December 28. The Paris correspondent of the "Morning Post'' says that while the Cabinet decided that Herr Hitler's proposals were not acceptable, it is understood that counter-proposals envisaging progressive reductions in armaments to the level ot' tliose of the Reich were prepared and approved by the Cabinet. It was decided that it was impossible to accept a non-aggression pact superseding Locarno, and it was also affirmed that integral maintenance of the German auxiliary formations was inadmissible.

PEACE WANTED BY NAZIS

HROADCAST TO GERMANS OVERSEAS (Received December 28, 11.50 p.m.) LONDON, December 20. The Berlin correspondent of "The Times" says that Herr Hitler's deputy, Herr Hess, broadcast a message to all Germans abroad and urged them once again to walk with their heads erect, full of true pride among other nations, "because your own nation once again knows the ideal of honour." He added that Herr Hitler's most urgent aim was to secure for Germany and Europe.' real peace, since a new war would only bring back bolshevist chaos and end all culture, perhaps even outside Europe.—- l 'lne Times" Cable.