DISARMAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 18 October 1932, Page 5

DISARMAMENT

A NEW ENTENTE 'BETWEEN FRANCE AND SPAIN. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, October 17. The “Daily Telegraph” says that M. Herriot, . .President of France, will pay an official visit to Spain on October 1. He aims at a promotion of a .rapprochment of the two Republics and the cementing of a fresh and real entente. It is helped that Spain at the Disarmament Conference, will prove one of the chief supporters of M. Herriot’s scheme of disarmament and security.

Indeed tlielre are suggestions in France that Spain would, under the French scheme, be a suitable depot for heavy war material,, such as guns, tanks and 1 air bombers, of which the League alone would be >able to dispose in the event of war for the defence of an innocent party. In Spain such a depot would be well beyond Germany’s reach, whereas the Swiss would regard a League of Nations’ arsenal in their country as a danger, threatening their security, and During President de'Valera’s . Diotatorehip of Spain there, was a ten* deney towards an Italy-Spanish entente, hut this has weakened with the present TadicaJ-Socialist . regime in Spain. ;■ , !

GERMAN ATTITUDE CRITICISED. REFUSAL TO ACCEPT PROPOSAL. ‘ RUGBY,’ ‘ October 15. Commenting on Germany’s relusal so far to accept the proposal, approved by Britain, France and Italy, for a meeting at Geneva to. seek a solution of th‘ e difficulty, which interrupted the ■•German participation, in the work d f the Disarmament ,C o;| ri erence > . “The Times” asks: —■ ~ “Is such a decision in Germany’s own interests? It,adds that at first sight, it certainly seems a blunder tlh.at the German Government should refuse to discuss ‘its wishes with .the . three other Governments principally concerned, merely because ft. was now proposed to meet in one place, instead of another, particularly a iS the other Governments overcame many 0 f their original objections and that IFrance in particular, has been persuaded to limit conversations to the Four Powers, and not enlarge it, as would have “it must .seem .pnwise,. oft u the part of th e German Government to- wreck tihe proposal, on what, is amere point of prestige, especially since, they won sisch general admission of ,the justice of .their claims for equal, ,status. In this country,'"'their clfiim WW received with almost . universal .sympathy and support, on the- - understanding which is paramount, that its recognitfo must be made • to. promote disarmament all round, and not used as a pretext for re-armament. - .«jv, ; “This sympathy .and support, can. only be weakened by anything which throws doubt. on the sincerity of , Germany desiring co-operation with the other iPowera to work for the. Peace- pf Europe.”