BRITISH PROPOSALS

Hokitika Guardian, 19 November 1932, Page 5

BRITISH PROPOSALS

DISARMAMENT OUTLINED BY SIR J. SIMON. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November 17. The British disarmament proopsals were presented at Geneva by Sir John Simon (foreign Secretary) to-day. The feature which has attracted the most attention is a suggestion for an immediate and drastic reduction o.i air forces as a first stage to the total elimination of air forces.

There is a proposal that the countries, including Britain, which possess large air armaments, should reduce them to two-thirds of the present size of the. present British force,. In considering this proposal, it should be remembered that, although Britain now stands only fifth in the size of her air force among the world air powers, she did possesss at the end of the war the largest and most powerful air force in the world, which she has since reduced unilaterally.”

A fui'ther immediate measure proposed is a limitation in the unladen weight of military aircraft to the low. est figure generally agreed to. Pending an examination of these proposals, it is considered not unreasonable to expect Germany to withhold any claim to possess military aircrart. Regarding British land armaments proposals for the limitation of mobile guns to 105 millimetres, Germany’s limit, as prescribed by the treaty—and the abolition of tanks above a given weight (which weight is fixed to exclude those suitable for offensive operations) are the most striking features.

1 Regarding the British naval proposals, which include a reduced size for battleships, and cruisers,' and the abolition of submarines, further conversations are now proceeding at Geneva between representatives of the chief naval powers. Sir John Simon emphasised that immense armaments reductions had been made in recent years by Britain, which, he said, precluded her from going any further without a general agreement. . , . FRENCH AERIAL DEFENCE. REMARKABLE TESTS, MADE. f PARIS, November 17. , Remarkable experiments in defence against aerial attacks have been carried out at Pas de Calais. Marpons, which warned the Inhabitants of fa coming air attack upon the powder magazines at Esquerdes, whereupon all of the inhabitants took refuge in bombproof shelters. Meanwhile, the defending troops operated machines on' the ground, shooting columns of smoke into the air. The town, in four minutes, was covered with a protective fog so dense that the attacking airmen were unable to see the targets. The experiment was ?o successful

1 ' that all of the important industrial 2 centres in Northern France are likely ■"P\ to be armed with fog shrouding machines.

GERMANY’S CLAIM FOR EQUALITY

QUESTION OF FINDING A BASIS

(Received this day at 9.25 a.m) ' LONDON, November 18. Sir John Simon said that th e British proposals are primarily directed at finding a ibasis whereon Germany’s claim to equality of status can be dealt with, while bearing in mind that the object of the conference is to effect the maximum measure of disarmament. Mr Simon suggested, under four 'heads, the best means of achieving equality. Firstly, all European countries should join' in an agreement not to attempt, under any circumstances, to resolve any difficulties by resort to force. Secondly, the 'limitation on Germany’s. armaments should' be contained in the same disarmament convention as that which will define the limitation of armaments of the others. Thirdly, German limitation would last for the same period a s the limitation imposed on the armaments of other countries. Fourthly, Germany should have legal ■right to possess the armaments permitted other countries, on condition that ther e ig no re-armament paragraph. SATISFACTION 'IN PARIS. > PARIS. November 18. The majority of newspaper express satisfaction at Sir John Simons '.statement that Britain regards the Versailles Treaty as an obligation which cannot be modified, except with the consent of all signatories. APPROVAL IN THE PRESS.

LONDON, November 18 Britain’s call for disarmament is

given prominence in the press which i approved always 'with Sir John Simon's other powers. The “limes” says that the great merit of the British proposals i s the concentration of the immediate issue,

giving Germany no excuse for absenting herself from the conference. They fhould secure the principle by voluntary , but controlled, limitation, tine °nlv alternative whereto ie uncontrolled competition.

COMPLAINT FROM BERLIN. LONDON, November 18. A Berlin message states 'Sir J. Simon was fully reported in the evening papers, which complain that Germany’s claim 'to equality is recognised upon conditions rendering equality illusoi’y. Geneva delegates listened to Sir J. Simon with rapt attention. The idling. everywhere is that a vitally important stage has been reached.