ALLIED CONTROL TO END

Evening Star, Issue 19431, 14 December 1926, Page 5

ALLIED CONTROL TO END

THE GENEVA AGREEMENT ANOTHER STEPPING-STONE TO PEACE Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. GENEVA, December 12. Between how and January 31 the German Government and the Allied Commission will endeavor .to come to terms regarding disarmament. After January League and international supervision will be substituted for Allied control. The change is likely to prove loss humiliating to Germany than the present form of control. If Germany is unable to satisfy the Allies in the matters of her fortresses amd the exportation of unfinished war material these will bo considered by the League Council, presumably in March. Tho greatest relief is expressed in League circles at the news of the agreement. Apprehension was previously engendered by the lengthy sittings of the “ Big Six ” and M. Briand’s and Dr Stresemann’s frequent requests for instructions from their capitals. THE DISARMAMENT DIFFICULTY. FRENCH APPREHENSIONS. LONDON, December 13. After eighteen months’ discussion more than 100 difficult mattdra which divided Germany and the Allies in connection with the Versailles Treaty have been settled. Tho final difficulty proved to be disarmament. The Allies admitted that Germany had carried out most of her obligations, but Frames regarded tho eastern fortresses and Germany’s capacity to export semi-finished war material as dangerous to herself and to Poland, and refused her assent to giving up the right of supervision over German armaments until these matters had been disposed of. Germany offered to submit tli© questions to arbitration, but despite the fact that M. Briand urged acceptance of this tho French Cabinet, which was sitting all day, persisted in its refusal. Finally Dr Stresemann, fearing that M. Briand would resign, agreed that if a majority of the League of Nations Council deemed it necessary the Council should investigate disarmament. PARIS, December 13. There were heated day-long discussions by the Cabinet before assent was given to tho compromise by means of which M. Briand obtained Dr Stresemann’s assent. M. Poincare had to use all his powers of persuasion with tho Nationalist section of the Cabinet, pointing out that unless M. Briand was supported the Tong battle for the franc had boem fought in vain. GERMAN PRESS VIEWS. BERLIN, December 13. The acceptance by the Geneva Conference of most of the German demands is regarded as a victory for the Government, bat the Nationalist organs criticise the settlement on the ground of France’s ability to influence the League Council. The 'Deutsche Allgomeine Zeitung’ significantly comments: “Germany is still unjustly subjected to partisanship in connection with the Versailles Treaty, but wo have now a new weapon, and have taken another step towards Germany’s recovery.” BELGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER’S VIEWS. A HINT TO GERMANY. BRUSSELS, December 13. (Received December 14, at 11 a.m.) M. Vandervelde, interviewed, said: “ Tho agreement at Genova is a victory for the spirit of peace, Locarno, and tho League of Nations. We trust that those across the frontier are working like us for peace and moral disarmament, which must precede general and material disarmament.”