OFFER BY FRANCE

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 31, 31 October 1932, Page 9

OFFER BY FRANCE

Disarmament Problems HERRIOT’S PROPOSALS Basis for Discussions RECEPTION BY GERMANY By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. (Rec. October 30, 6.30 p.m.) Paris, Oct. 29. Speaking during the debate on disarmament in the Chamber of Deputies the French Premier, M. Herriot, said that France was prepared to accept—

(1) General organisation on the basis of reduced short-time service for metropolitan land armies, providing that all bodies not in conformity therewith should be disbanded, for example, the Reichswehr. (2) Internationally regulated internal police forces, with the right of investigation as authorised by Locarno and completed by European pacts of mutual assistance, providing the force were sufficient to suppress aggression. (3) Compulsory arbitration of all disputes.

(4) The United States should grant guarantees of security to members of the League of Nations and undertake to fulfil the obligations of Article XVI of the Covenant.

M. Herriot said that he would ask the Chamber to ratify the plan if it were adopted at Geneva. The scheme presented no danger to France, who would rally round her all the friends necessary. M. Herriot said that the German rearmament plan originated with General von Seeckt and the General Staff, and provided for an army of shock troops recruited from soldiers who had had six years’ service, supported by an army of all elements of the nation. M. Herriot received an ovation on leaving the tribune. POSITION OF BRITAIN Further Two French Points (Rec. October 30, 6.30 p.m.) Paris, Oct. 29. A communique to-night adds two points to M. Herriot’s proposals. First, France would agree to a general reduction of short-term service for all metropolitan land forces provided disarmament were interdependent between land and sea and air forces. Secondly, provided the nations with the responsibility of overseas territories shall retain specialised forces. An official associated with the preparation of the plan explains that the plan Is deliberately elastic. There is no question of resuscitating the protocol with compulsory armed assistance. The plan merely proposes regional mutual assistance, completing the Locarno agreement. It does not mean that Britain will be asked to supply troops for a common army to be held in readiness to suppress aggression, which is a. purely Continental affair. Similarly it does not affect armies for colonial service like Britain’s. CONFIDENCE IN HERRIOT (Rec. October 30, 6.30 p.m.) Paris, Oct. 29. The Chamber of Deputies passed a vote of confidence in M. Herriot by 430 votes to 20. GERMA# RECEPTION (Rec. October 30, 6.30 p.m.) Berlin, Oct. 29. The Government considers M. Herriot’s scheme acceptable as a basis for discussion. MR MACDONALD ATTACKED French Premier’s Spirited Defence Paris, Oct. 28. An attack on Mr. Ramsay MacDonald by M. Bouillon and M. Herriot’s retort enlivened the disarmament debate. M. Bouillon declared that he shuddered at the name of MacDonald, for France would be under the German yoke if it depended on him alone. He tried desperately in 1914 to prevent Britain participating, and continued his political activities in war-time. M. Herriot stigmatised M. Bouillon’s remarks as unjust and imprudent, and would increase the difficulty of international negotiations if .not ‘contradicted. Replying to M. Blum, M. Herriot denied that General Weygand had delayed the disarmament plan. M. Blum advocated progressive disarmament as the only means of preventing Germany from rearming and leading the armament race eventually to war. He added that the future of Europe in peace or war for decades to come was in M. Herriot’s hands. He urged him to seize the last chance to take the word of Germany, which country threatened to rearm only if general disarmament were refused. M. Herriot reiterated his faith in Locarno.

M. Bouillon asserted tha't M. Herriot should not be called upon/to propound a plan any more than M. Tardieu. Germany was not entitled to invoke Article V of the Treaty, because she had violated all her engagements. Briti ‘ and America were doing their best to strengthen Germany, and France had been duped. Locarno should not have gone to Lausanne, and inquiries should be made into German armaments before the negotiations were continued.