DISARMAMENT

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 271, 31 October 1932, Page 8

DISARMAMENT

DEBATE IN FRENCH CHAMBER MR MACDONALD ATTACKED. M. HERRIOT’S SPIRITED DEFENCE Paris, Oct. 28. M. Bouillon’s attack on Mr Ramsay MacDonald and M. Herriot’s retort enlivened the disarmament debate in the Chamber of Deputies, in which s general conscription and the dissolution of the Reichswehr were disclosed as salient points of M. Herriot’s plan. M. Bouillon declared that he shud dcred at the name of MacDonald, for Fiance 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 tin replying to M. Blum, M. Herriot denied that General Weygand had delayed the disarmament plan PROGRESSIVE DISARMAMENT. 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 eome 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 js refused. M. Herriot reiterated his faith in Locarno and in Britain’s signature thereto. M. Bouillon asserted that Mr. Hernot should not be called upon to propound a plan any more than M. Tardieu. Germany was not entitled to invoke Article 5 of the Treaty, because she had violated all her engagements. Britain and American 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 armamenta before negotiations are continued. ‘ 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. DISSOLUTION OF REICHSWEHR. France would accept the general organisation of reduced short-time service for metropolitan and land armies, providing all bodies not in conformity thereewith are disbanded, the Reichswehr, for example. Internationally regulated internal police force with the right of investigation, as organised at Locarno and completed by European pacts,, would be of mutual assistance providing the force is sufficient to suppress aggression. Compulsory arbitration was also necessary for all disputes. The United States should grant guarantees of securities to members of the League of Nations and undertake to fulfil the obligations of Article 16 of the covenant. He -intended to ask the Chamber to ratify the plan if it adopted the Geneva scheme, which presented no danger to France, who would rally round her all the friends necessary. M. Herriot received an ovation on leaving the tribune CONFIDENCE IH M. HERRIOT A LARGE MAJORITY Paris, Oct. 29. The Chamber of Deputies passed a vote of confidence in M. Herriot, the result being 430 for to 20 against. A communique to-night adds two points to M. Herriot’s proposals. Firstly: France would agree to a general reduction of short term services for all metropohtal land forces provided disarmament is interdependent between land and sea Secondly: Provided nations with responsibility in overseas territories shall retain specalised 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 Locarno. It does not mean that Britain is asked to join an eastern Locarno or supply troops for a common army held in readiness to suppress aggression, which is purely a continental affair. Similarly, it does not affect armies for colonial service, like Britain’s, which is not expected to adopt conscription GERMAH VIEW OF FLAN Berlin, Oct. 29. The Government considers M. Herriot’s scheme acceptable as a basis for discussion.