BRITISH CLAIMS ON EUROPE

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 57, 1 December 1923, Page 7

BRITISH CLAIMS ON EUROPE

EXTRAORDINARY SITUATION ARISES CREATION OF NEW POLITICAL AND economic unit POTENTIAL MENACE FROM GERMANY Attention is called by the London “Times” to the extraordinary situation which has arisen in Europe through the creation of a new political and economic unit in the region between occupied Germany and France. At the same time a reminder is given that Germany has not carried out some of the military clauses of the Versailles Treaty, and the opinion is expressed by British militaryexperts that the situation in this respect constitutes a potential, though not an imminent, menace.

By Telegraph—Press Association. —Copyright.

London, November 29.

“Tlie Times” in a leader says:

“It is the urgent duty of the British Government to safeguard British interests in Europe in view of the extraordinary situation that has arisen through the creation of what is virtually a new political and economic unit in the wealthy region between unoccupied Germany and France. “France has chosen to carry put a policy which has culminated m an agreement with the Ruhr industrialists, in face of the emphatically expressed disapproval of Britain, and 1 from the inter-Alliod viewpoint she has shaken the foundation of the Treaty of Versailles. 'Die general quealion of reparations has obvious/ been postponed indefinitely. “The French must accept the consequences of their own deliberate action. What no British Government can do is to forego British claims in Europe. “Times.” ARMAMENTS IN GERMANY SITUATION REGARDED SERIOUSLY London, November 29. Well-informed quarters discredit a statement attributed by the Paris “Matin” to General Bingham, head or the central section of the Allied Military Control in Germany, that the disarmament of Germany was completed months ago. , , , It is pointed out that tho latest Note of the Conference of Ambassadors to Germany plainly intimated that a number of tho military clauses of tho Treaty of Versailles had not been carried out to the satisfaction of the Allies. Since the dispatch of this Note no Allied control has been exercised. In the meantime largo numbers of men, exceeding the Treaty establishment, have been rapidly trained. . Alilitary experts are of opinion that owing to the French occupation of tho Ruhr. Germany is at present unable to provide artillery, but that Krupps have, cultivated close relations with Russia and Sweden, though it is not yet possible to ascertain whether this is concerned with the manufacture and supply of guns. It is also pointed out that the Allies have not secured yinore than half tho rifles in Germany, There is little doubt that German small arms factories are turning out rifles and ammunition on a large scale; and altogether the situation is regarded as a potential though not an imminent menace. —Reuter. “NO DANGER AT PRESENT” (Rec. November 30, 3-5 p.m.) London. November 30. The “Daily Telegraph’s” political observer says: “What General Bingham

said was that Germany had been disarmed to such an extent that she cannot be dangerous to France at present. Regarding the future, he always said that the Commission had no power to order the destruction of German works which could be transformed for war purposes, nor was it possible to sterilise the brains of inventive Germans who. in obscure laboratories, -were trying to devise new methods of warfare. The conclusion at which General Bingham arrived is' that Germany has been sufficiently disarmed to make it unnecessary for the commission to risk provoking incidents bv sending officers to areas where unlawful armaments are suspected. This can wait until tho unrest has simmered down. The British viewpoint is that although the Germans could probably _ arm about 300,000 reservists in addition to Reichswehr, they do not possess artillery worth mentioning, or other equipment, and there war with France now would be equivalent to mass suic-ide.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. PETTY ANNOYANCES POSITION OF FRENCHMEN IN BERLIN London, November 29. The Paris correspondent of “The Times” says that attention is being called to the unenviable situation of French officials in Berlin and other parts of unoccupied Germany. They are subject to daily petty annoyances by German landlords and tradespeople. Moreover, the French 100-franc note only produces in Berlin six billion marks whereas it is worth fifteen billions in Dusseldorff ’ and at least twenty billions in Cologne. French officials in Berlin are therefore obliged to draw from their private resources in order to maintain, their position with becoming dignity.—“Tinies.” RHINELAND REPUBLIC HEAD OF GOVERNMENT • , DETHRONED London, November 29. The Cologne correspondent of “The Times” says that Herr Matthes, tho head of tho Provisional Government of the Rhineland Republic, has been dethroned by a coup d’etat, apparently headed' bv Herr Dorten. According to Herr Matthes, quarrels are raging In the Separatist Cabinet. He alleged that dishonest associates have long plotted his downfall. There is no news from Coblenz as to who has succeeded Herr Matthes, but presumably Herr Dorten has stepped into his shoes. —“Times.”