DISARMAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 28 October 1932, Page 5

DISARMAMENT

FRENCH' OFFER REDUCTION BY 20 PER CENT. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) PARTS, October 27. The establishment of International |Ac/ial Police, the international control of military budgets, the international control of the manufacture of arms, and the suppression of pseuuo-military police forces, are among the proposals that are believed to be included in the French Disarmament Plan, which, if it is adopted when submitted to the Disamament Conference on November 3rd will result probably in at least a twenty per cent reduction in the French military estimates. This forecast is based on the report on the disarmament plan adopted at a meeting of the committee of the Radical Party.

In reference to the question of arms equality, the report says:—“Germany, by renouncing all of her intentions to re-arm, would take a normal place in the European international framework. The equality of rights is logically related to equality of security. The renunciation of the internal guarantees of security must be accompanied by international guarantees, 1 ’

The plan also envisages a consultative pact wth the United States. The report is particularly severe on the organisation constituting armies, under the pretext of being political police; though it admits* it may be necessary to combine the regular army and the militia.

GERMAN POCKET BATTLESHIP PARIS, October 27. Germany is building a third “pocket” battleship. The French cabinet has therefore decided to proceeded with the construction of the battle cruiser “Bunlcerque.” This vessel w T as voted by Parliament last year.

HOOVER ISSUES STATEMENT. ATTIUDE OF AMERICA WASHINGTON, October 26. Serving notice on the world that “this Government considers land armaments reduction is a perquisite to further naval reductions,” President Hoover to-day took occasion, in connection. with the celebrations for Navy Day to-morrow, to issue a statement making known his Government’s attitude towards disarms lent. “It. is also regarded <>s being another attempt to galvanise the Geneva negotiations into action. Ho said that the failure of these Geneva negotiations would compel the United States to build a navy to the full treaty strength. He adds: “This administration has spared no reasonable effort to; bring about an agreement among all nations upon the reduction of arms upo i ratios agreed upon at the London Conference. Our patience in these negotiations has never for a moment jeopardised the safety of the United States.

“These efforts are making progress. If these efforts finally fail, we will be compelled by, reason of the disturbed conditions, prevailing throughout the world, and by the necessity of protect ting American commerce, ten build a navy to the full strength provided by the* London agreement, and equal to that of tjie most powerful navy in the v-rld. I need scarcely suggest the vast expenditure that would be involved by this necessity, or the blow that it would deal to one of the most cherished aspirations of our people.”