GERMAN MOVE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 260, 16 October 1933, Page 8

GERMAN MOVE

EUROPE STARTLED WITHDRAWAL FROM LEAGUE & DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE HITLER DEMANDS EQUALITY.

REICHSTAG DISSOLVED LONDON, Oct. 15. Without a word of warning or the slightest preliminary hint in the whole press of Europe, Germany dramatically withdrew from the Disarmament Conference and from the League itself; the Government dissolved the Reichstag and ordered new elections, while Herr Hitler launched statement after statement throughout the day railing against the Powers of Europe and demanding the right ef equal armaments. All that appeared to be lacking was a formal declaration of war. The news first stunned all the nations, then for a time roused fiery passions. Nazi brass bands marched to the Unterderlinden escorting crowds cheering the decision. Evening papers in Vienna at«l Paris indulged in a war scare, until later in the day calmer counsels prevailed. The League headquarters at Geneva were shaken to their foundations. Mr. MacDonald received the news at Chequers. It is not clear whether Herr Hitler knew the contents of Sir John Simon’s speech before it was actually delivered, but it is certain that events eould hardly have moved faster. It - is difficult to believe that the German plans were not already cut and dried and waiting only such a confirmation of the Powers’ attitude as the speech would afford. No decision of a great ; Power has caused such a sensation since the war years. The British United Press’ Berlin cor- I respondent says that as Sir John Simon ! spoke at Geneva the German Cabinet i sat around a table and read the de- ; tails. Feelings slowly mounted, and I suddenly the decision was taken to cut I adrift from the League. Mr. Arthur Henderson has called a meeting of the British, American and Italian delegates for Sunday to examine the position. Mr. MacDonald is returning to London to confer with his colleagues, while there are similar conferences of Ministers in Paris and other capitals. Mr. Henderson’s reply to Berlin is as brief as possible, and merely acknowledges receipt of the telegram, which he is to submit to the Bureau. The “Sunday Times’’ in an editorial anys that Germany’s self-isolation is a oolossal blunder, and her decision is a defiance to the world and a blow to •onstructive effort everywhere. “Germany versus the world,’’ is how the “Observer’’ describes the situation, which is causing alarm and astonishment throughout the world — ■otably in Italv where officials arc Bewildered.