FRANK CRITICISM

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 53, 11 September 1928, Page 11

FRANK CRITICISM

GERMANY'S RESOURCES ADAPTED FOR WAR Australian Press Association. (Roeoived 11th September, noon.) GENEVA, 10th September. In replying to Herr Mueller, Chancellor of Germany, M. Briand said: | 'Wo are not party politicians sitting in an international congress, but meu taking into account every factor affecting world peace I have often been accused of being a mero speechmaker —not .a man of action. lam confident that Herr Mueller does not share that view. Tho Locarno Pact was not a speech. "Herr Mueller had demanded general disarmament. Ho exclaimed: 'Look at Germany. Why do.not all other | States disarm, too?' It is inexact to j say that Germany is entirely disarmed. She possesses an army of a hundred thousand, officers and non-coms, to form tho army's cardc, and behiud them is an immense, magnificent roservoir of trained, courageous men who showed such heroism and military skill in the Great War and are capa'blo of rejoining tho colours for another ten years. Herr Mueller himself would admit that, if he regarded the matter from another viewpoint than that of propaganda." MISTAKEN OUTCRY. After alluding to Germany's vast industrial resources, capable of rapid adaptation to war purposes, M. Briand said that Britain and Franco had done all possible for world peace, but had boon singularly unfortunate. They had tried to overcome tho difficulties relating to naval disarmament, and produced not a treaty, not an agreement, but a certain rapprochement which might promote disarmament. "But what an outcry arose! Wo have been told that secret clauses and secret agreements existed, though all we did was to try to assist the cause of disarmament." The competition of armaments had already been halted, he continued, and there was no Government iii Europe which dared propose an increase, either naval or military. "It is easy to say that nothing remains to prevent disarmament, but overy statesman feels a responsibility which is deeper than popular enthusiasm. The atmosphere of security must bo undisturbed; There is a country in Europe whero war matorial increases despite theatrical gestures favouring disarmament."