DISARMAMENT

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21081, 5 February 1934, Page 11

DISARMAMENT

+ — Germany's Reply to France MANY OBJECTIONS

EQUALITY OF TREATMENT CLAIMED f (i-siTr.D ftr.,-53 association, by electric TCI.EtiRAPH- COPY RIGHT.) (Received February 4, 6.30 p.m.) BERLIN. February 3. The Government's reply to the French aide-memoire says: "We have grave doubts as to whether this is the way to treat the disarmament problem in accordance with justice, and with a desire to serve the cause of peace. Germany's principal objections are the French suggestions regarding war materials, which would postpone disarmament for several years. It would be no contribution to security if only highly armed States undertook not to prepare new weapons of aggression, while Germany had to be content with the thoroughly inadequate weapons allowed her by the Treaty of Versailles. "The question of numerical strength can only be decided when it is known what France proposes to do about overseas troops, especially African troops, who can be brought to Europe at a moment's notice. If it is intended that Germany should not possess an air force, not even the suggested reduction in the air strength of other States would alter Germany's condition of radical inequality and total defencelessness. "Germany doubts the fairness of the proposed control system, which will work differently in disarmed States as opposed to highly armed ones. She asks: Is the discrimination against Germany to be prolonged for a further period of years? Can the other powers find any justification for a plan which is "so hard •to reconcile with the honour and security of the German people?" A FRENCH VIEW OF RECENT MEMORANDA PARIS .February 2. The newspaper "Le Quotidien" says: "The English and Italian notes ]':ave us stupefied. Great Britain's only object is seemingly to satisfy both parties in the lawsuit. Her object is to squeeze the lemon till the pips rqueak. We know who the lemon is.' - THE VIEWS OF FOUR POWERS AGREEMENT REGARDED AS ESSENTIAL (tißiTisn omu.u. wirei.iss.) RUGBY, February 2. To the British and Italian proposals for disarmament at present under consideration by the governments of the world has now been added a French memorandum on the subject, which was handed to the German Government on Monday. This note is now published. All four of the principal European countries have thus put forward their ideas on the subject, and it is notable that despite differences m the many viewpoints expressed, there is at least common recognition that of paramount importance to the peace of the world is an agreement which will avoid the almost inevitable catastrophic consequences of an armaments race. Another underlying consideration is the economic and social consequences of the vast and wasteful expenditure which might follow failure to reach an armaments convention. Aerial Armaments. It is noted in London that particular attention is devoted in some quarters to the British proposals regarding air armaments. The British Government has repeatedly emphasised the importance of this aspect of the problem, and its memorandum recognises that aircraft may prove the most potent of military weapons in tne possession of mankind. Article 35 of the British Draft Convention required that the permanent Disarmament Commission should work out schemes for the total elimination of military and naval aircraft, dependent on the effective supervision of civil aircraft. The British Government now proposed that if the commission has not decided on abolition at the end of two years all countries shall be entitled to possess military aircraft. . ~ The memorandum states that in the British Government's view, it would be prejudicial to the prospects of the enquiry that any party not hitherto entitled to possess military aircraft should claim such possession pending the results of the enquiry. At the same time the British Government frankly recognises that Germany and other states not at present entitled to military aircraft could not be asked to postpone for long their claims." This proposal puts a term to the discussion, which might have been much prolonged. The memorandum suggests that Germany, in the interim, should be entitled to possess anti-aircraft guns.