GERMANY’S WITHDRAWAL

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 19 October 1933, Page 5

GERMANY’S WITHDRAWAL

Check to Disarmament Plans

BRITAIN’S STAND REVIEWED “Equality Of Rights” For AH "REGIME OF SECURITY." OPPOSITION TO REARMING. (British Otficial Wireless.) RUGBY, Oct. 17. Sir John Simon broadcast a statement wit!) regard to the recent disarmament negotiations and the withdrawal of Germany from the conference "Every man or woman who at all appreciates the importance of good international relations to the future of the world realises the gravity ot the event," lie said.

After reviewing the sequence of events Sir John said: "Germany’s position is known to all. Here is a great community which after the loss of the war was disarmed under the Treaty of Versailles.. Britain took a leading part in securing in December last a declaration subscribed, to by France, Italy and the United States, as-well as ourselves, that. Germany ought to receive ‘equality of rights in a regime of security.’ "By that declaration we stand. We have never wavered from it. We assert its validity to-day. But a new fact—a very serious fact—has emerged which does not in the least alter the pledge which we gave, but which necessarily affects the detailed manner of its fulfilment. Recent events in Europe have unquestionably increased the feeling of nervousness, the sense of positive alarm, which is the real reason why heavily armed States hesitate to weaken their armed forces Lord Cecil said two days ago, ‘lt is a very genuine anxiety and it would be folly to ignore it.’ # MODIFICATION SOUGHT. "There is more anxiety in England about the international situation than for many years past, and on the Continent feeling is more acute. Everybody knows why. We have therefore tried in these conversations to work out modifications in the British plan which this new situation required if an agreement was to lie reached. Mr. Henderson declared on October 9, ‘On some of the more important questions the approach is manifestly influenced by the present unsettled state of Etorope and the ensuing distrust, fears and alarms.’

"We began discussing amongst ourselves whether in applying the accepted principle of proceeding by stages we must not set up a suitable system of international supervision and start by transformations in Continental armies which have already been provisionally agreed. Meanwhile there would be from the beginning of the convention an agreement that no Power would manufacture or acquire any arms of a sort to be eventually abolished.

"In discussing this scheme Germany stipulated, quite rightly, that the disarmament of the second stage must be all laid down in detail in the treaty itself and that supervision must be applied generally and not to one or two countries alone. With all that j quite agree, and 1 certainly thought we were finding in our discussions a much closer approach to a possible basis of agreement than ever before. I reported these steps,* in language which no fair-minded person could regard as provocative, to the bureau ol the conference, and 1 regretted very much that the German Foreign Minister, Baron von Neurath, was not there to take part. PROHIBITED WEAPONS. "I do not for a moment suggest that an agreement had been reached, but I do most emphatically say time the question which seemed likely to give most trouble was not the proposal of successive periods, but the question whether Gtermany should have from the very beginning what were called ‘samples’—types of weapons now prohibited to her. I had asked to be informed by the German Government exactly what they meant by samples. I had reminded her Foreign Minister that we had been promised this information. We were not the only Government that was waiting for it.

“What happened when at length the German claim was formally re-stated ? There cannot be the least doubt that instead of defining what was meant by samples the claim was for substantial rearmament from the very beginning. “I very much regret to see that Baron von Neurath in addressing the foreign Press." has been accusing me of taking a false view as to this, and indeed of mis-stating the facts. I am perfectly ready to publish the documents and records to show it, and indeed, in view of what he said the British Government- is entitled to do so. There is not the slightest doubt that the attitude taken up by the German Government as present represented a further widening of the breach, and that all the good work which has been put into the recent conversations by all of us with mutual goodwill has been jeopardised, if not precluded, by this new attitude.

“I voice the thought of the British Government as a whole when 1 say nothing shall be left undone in the future to attain the success of an honest and honourable compact upon, which tlie hopes of mankind for the future peace of the world largely depended.” CABINET TO CONSIDER.

FULL EXAMINATION SOUGHT. LONDON. Oct, 18. The British Cabinet will meet today to receive a full statement from Sir John Simon on disarmament and to discuss Britain’s polcy in the light of events in the meantime. It was plainly intimated last night that no announcement of the Government’s attitude could be expected until the position was fully examined. Ihe Cabinet has to decide upon instructio is to be given the British delegates for the resumed conference on October 26. The meeting may be protracted yud may possibly be adjourned. NEW OFFER FROM BERLIN. CONTINUANCE OF DISCUSSION. VENUE OUTSIDE GENEVA. LONDON. Oct. 17. Germany, following Herr Hitler's veiled overture to M. Daladier, the French Prime Minister, has informed Italy ol' her readiness to continue the

disarmament discussions outside Geneva, presumably complimentary to the previous conversations. Signor Mussolini bus hotly contradicted a report that he is determined to uphold the German case. “1 uphold neither Germany nor anyone else, the situation should be met by the united wisdom of all the Governments concerned,” he said. “We are deaf to no word and olind to no act,’’ said M. Daladier, briefly replying to Herr Hitler on the re-open-ing of the Chamber of Deputies. “Why if Germany desired an understanding did it cause a rupture; why oppose control when it is ready to destroy everything to the last rifle and machine-gun? Why not accept a loyal and sincere plan of progressive reduction in armaments? “France intends to remain true, whatever happens, to the policy of collaboration and will examine in that spirit the situation which not only concerns France and Germany but aiso the world. France’s past moderation and sacrifices have precluded bargaining for concessions. The Government will continue to defend the great interests of France and peace.”