GERMANY’S STAND

Evening Star, Issue 21637, 5 February 1934, Page 9

GERMANY’S STAND

A REPLY TO PRANCE RESENTS CONTINUED DISCRIMINATION Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. BERLIN, February 3. The Government’s reply to the French aide memoire says: “We have grave doubts whether this is the way to treat the disarmament problem, in accordance with justice and serving the cause of peace. Germany’s principal objections are that the French suggestions regarding war material would postpone disarmament for several years. It would be no contribution to security if highly-armed States only undertook not to piepare 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 her overseas troops, especially African, which 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 would work differently in disarmed States as opposed to highlyarmed ones. ’She asks, Is discrimination against Germany to be prolonged for a further period of years? Can other Powers find any justification for a plan which is so hard to reconcile with the honour and security of the German people?”