Grave European Crisis

Hokitika Guardian, 16 October 1933, Page 5

Grave European Crisis

TJnited Press Association—By Electria Telegraph—Copyright.)

Sir J. Simon, in a statement, said the British Government believes a disarmament , convention could not have

been agreed on (a basis that (would provide for any immediate re-arma-ment. Recent conversations had shown that the British draft convention, which . had been adopted as a framework ,of agreement, : will require, in some respects, to be recast. It was designed to cover five years, and some Powers wish it extended to eight years. So far, no objection has been raised to eight years. It will lie devoted to securing two.essential conditions—first, .the special measure of disarmament actually completed; and second, achievement of the principle of equality, within the realm of security. The eight year scheme would begin with a transformation of. armaments, and adequate supervision, through a permanent Disarmament■■ Commission. The exact amount of disarmament to be achieved in the eight years must be stipulated in the convention. Britain Would not be satisfied if the degree ot disarmament is not set out in full detail, and is really adequate. A list of permitted arms will be drawn up and will be the same for all countries. The scheme thus would in time achieve substantial disarmament equality; hut the powers not restricted by the peace treaties shall not begin to increase the'r.armaments immediately, but shall express a willingness to conform to the timetable,’’ : ’ • ■ ‘ The inflexibility of Sir John Simon’s statement dumbfounded the German delegates," who were disappointed at there being:a united front of Britain, Prance, America aiid Italy.

Tlie withdrawal is fett to he the loglcrt.l consequences of Herr Hitler's recent utterancesi

GERMAN GOVT, HUMILIATED.

MANIFESTO ISSUED BY HITLER.

BERLIN, October 14. Chancellor Hitler has issued a manifesto to the nation, saying: Germany is most disappointed.' Despite her readiness to disarm to the utmost other nations did not desire to fulfil their Peace Treaty pledges to the German people. The German Government had been humiliated by the deliberate refusal of real, moral, actual equality, despite a promise made on November 11, 1932, as a result of which Germany had agreed to participate in the Disarmament Conference. The. German Government - considered the refusal an unjustifiable discrimination, and it will not further participate in the negotiations as a second-class Power without rights. “While the Government /reiterates a firm desire for peace, it regrets that humiliating, dishonouring demands compel its withdrawal from the Conference and the League. The Government is submitting its decision to the people, from whom it expects a manifestation of a similar conception of honour and determination. He added: “I am convinced that the nation, like one man. will confirm this decision, springing from the love of our people, and respect for their honour and for world peace, which is only possible if the victorand sacrifices, the greatness of which with equal rights for all who live. Ger- . many has now the opportunity for electing Deputies committed to this policy.”

GRAVE MENACE OF REARMAMENT.

HITLER’S REVIEW OF POSITION

NATIONS’ ATTITUDE CRITICISED

BERLIN, October 14. Herr Hitler, in a broadcast this evening, declared that nobody tried sr honestly to help to heal war wounds as Germany. If Gorjrtany’s. sufferings •our sacrifices, the greatness of which was not realised, and also the absolute fanatical loyalty with which she destroyed immeasurable quantities of war material, on air. land and sea, could not lead to pacification, it wa s due to a treaty perpetuating- conceptions of victors towards vanquished. He contended the Nazis had turned a threatening eatastrophy of Communism from Europe, which constituted an historical service. He added: “Yet the world which we have not harmed, lias beer

persecuting rg for mouths with lies and slanders only romnarnble to those of / the war. The Nazi revolution was the most bloodless of °nv v , ' + . Conn minis'o endures have circulated atrocity stories. What would the "-orb l 3 l™o Oe---

many, if we were to hold a trial hero in favour of a man who sot fire to the British House of Parliament for the purpose of deprecating British justice?

GERMANY WITHDRAWS FROM LEAGUE

DEMAND FOR EQUALITY OPPOSED

POWERS OFFER A COMBINED FRONT

GENEVA, October 14. Germany has severed her connection with the League of Nations and with the Disarmament Conference. After hearing Herr Nadolny’s report from Geneva, Chancellor Hiiler and the leading Ministers decided that Germany should not make any further concession there. A semi-official statement declares that German Powers are attempt-

ing to secure a Convention by which the most heavily armed ones will not make the slightest step to disarm. The German delegates arc * leaving to-night. The German representative did not attend this afternoon’s meeting or the League Council.

HITLER ANNOUNCES WITHDRAWAL.

PLEBISCITE TO BE TAKEN,

BERLIN, October 14

Chancellor Hitler dramatically announced Germany's withdrawal from the League at a meeting of journalists

Tlie Reichstag is being dissolved to enable a plebiscite to be taken on the Government’s .policy.

The Provincial Parliament are also dissolving but there will be no elections. Another message states the Reichstag will be dissolved by special order of President Hindenburg. The Plebiscite is being hold on November 12; The list of candidates is being published next week; The electors will vote for the man, instead of for mny party. In its manifesto, the German Government intimates that tluj German people would joyfully renew a vow to destroy the last German machine gun, and dismiss the last man from the German army. The Government desires to examine and solve by negotiation ail international questions in a spirit overcoming war .psychology and is ready to conclude non aggression pacts ensuring long-lasting peiace, and to participate in a general scheme of cultural reconstruction, but the Government consider that recognition of equality for Germany in armaments must lie the precedent thereto. It Will suffer any .persecution or affliction rather than sign treaties that would be unacceptable to an honourloving nation, thereby loading to a perpetuation of Versailles misery and i collapse of civilisation. z

U.S.A. OPPOSES GERMAN DEMAND

WASHINGTON, October U

The United States was disclosed tonight as standing firmly with her one time allies in opposition to German rearmament, and in support of the arms reduction plan. The Roosevelt Administration asserted that, “A disarmament convention could not properly be made an instrument for reaviiHament,” and that. “qulalithtive equality in armaments should primarily' be sought through the reduction of the armaments of heavily-armed pow--•rs and not through acts on the part of others to attempt building up armaments.”

The New York “Times” Washington correspondent, says: “Senator Hull Secretary of State) indicated to-day that the United States Governmentplaces squarely upon Germany the blame for’ slowing down and impeding die movement toward general disarmament. The Goman withdrawal from the League and Conference apparently •ame as a surprise to the State Doourtment. The role of the United States, Senator Dull said, had been throughout the Disarmament Conference, one of striving whole-heartedly "iul unremittingly for general disarmament action. The- Hitler Government had bated the spirit of team work, which the United States had tried to practice and to encourage.

•‘There is no doubt from Senator Hull’s remarks that Britain, France iml the t nitecl States were in accord against any rearming by Germany. There is however ,no talk of the United States entering into sanctions against Germany, it being generally felt that Germany’s action to-day is more of a gesture than a treaty violation. Senator Trull made it clear that he had

not given up hope of attaining a, measure of disarmament bv the I heavily-armed nations. “I shudder to contemplate the j

Referring to France, Herr Hitler, said: “It Avould be a gigantic event in the world if France and Germany banished mutual violence. The German people are ready for such a course. No territorial conflicts would exist between us after the return of the Saar. If M. Dnladier asks why the German, youth are now marching, it is not to demonstrate against France, but to establish a political concentration against Communism. Nevertheless, only the Reichsv/ehr are armed. If the rest of the world .shuts itself in indestructible fortresses, .and builds monstrous aeroplanes, tanks and guns, it cannot speak of a menace when the Nazi s inarch in fours entirely unarmed. Germany does not demand offensive arms, but a right to equality and also defensive weapons "'lnch are allowed all nations!

NOT CONSIDERED POSSIBLE

GENEVA, October 14,

“AMERICA IS AGAINST WAR.”

WASHINGTON, October 13

NAZI PRESS BLAMES BRITAIN

BERLIN, October VI

alternative of all the nations, surrendering and giving up either their efforts or their hope of promoting disarmament and securing it,” lie said. Among the officials here, there arc several who, witliout becoming apologists for the German impatience that was manifested, to-day, hold that France and Poland notably have been regrettably slow in living up to what they consider implied disarmament obligations in the Versailles Treaty.

POWERS’ FIRM OPPOSITION.

BUREAU TO DISCUSS POSITION

RUGBY, October 13

There were further exchanges of views between British, French and American delegates of the Disarmament Conference at Geneva yesterday, but the situation remained unchanged. The attitude of these three powers in regard to the German claims for immediate ro-arinamcnt is one of firm opposition. At Geneva, it is anticipated that a declaration for these lines by rouresentatives of Britain, France and the United States will be made at to-morrow’s meeting of the Bureau of the Disarmament Conference. Meanwhile Herr Nadoluy (Germany) has been summoned to Berlin to report to n.s Government.

The critical situation reached concerning disarmament will he discussed by a meeting of the Bureau of the Disarmament Conference at Geneva to=morrow, when it is anticipated Sir J, Silnoil will make an important speech, review the course of rtioent conversations. These conversation g have revealed that Franco and the United States fully share the view of the British Government that the immediate re-armament of Germany could not be countenanced, and that a programme of disarmament by stages is essential.

During the preliminary period, control of armaments and military expenditure would be exercised, and would lead, after an interval, to substantial disarmament of tbe heavily armed powers, and equally for Germany in regard- to permitted weapons.

NATIONS’ EQUALITY DEMAND

In his speech here, Sir John Simon (British Foreign Secretary) said: “Britain considers an agreement is impossible on any basis of immediate rearmament. The agreement necessary at the outset is that no Government shall manufacture, or acquire, weapons of any type that may eventually be abolished. We earnestly desire the attainment of equality of status, whch would be best accomplished by a. programme like that cf the British.”

M. Boncour, French Foreign Minister. supporting Sir J. Simon, insisted on the necessity Of firms control, and lie emphasised that the object of tiie Convention was to reduce the level of armament. thus attaining equality, Mr Davis (United States) reiterated M. Boncour’s argument. He said that America would not participate in supervision unless there were a treaty that contained precise disarmament crovisjons.

Herr von Rhinebaben demanded that the heavily armed powers should immediately disarm. Equality, he said, should immediately be realised; but Germany was prepared to negotiate in respect to the quantities of arms to which she was entitled. Herr von Neuratli, German Foreign Minister, in his announcement to Mr Henderson of Germany’s withdrawal from the League and the Disarmament Conference, says: “Recent discussions indicate that the Conference, will not ful fill general dsarniament, owing to the unwillingness by highly armed States to carry out coutraetural obligations to disarm. This renders is impossible to satisfy Germany’s claim to equality, consequently, the conditions under which Germany agreed to participate in the Conference no longer exist.”

President Ro-oseveilt said in an address to the nation on Friday night that “no threat to world peace emanitea from the United States, for we are overyhelming]y against war, ami, as a nation, are seeking no additional ten'itory at the expense of our neighbour.” He was addressing the third ■annual Women’s Conference on curKUit problems in flow York, from White House. He said: “Only through constant education and i'lie stressing of ideals of peace can those nations threatening the peace of the world by imperialistic desires be brought into line with the majority against such a. policy.”

The German newspapers welcome ihe decision to leave the Disarma-

ment Conference. The ‘‘Deutsche Allege.meine Zcitung” says: ‘‘Tbi s decision relieves Germany from an unbearable 'nightmade having no natural- possibilities of life.”

The German profs blames England and the French for the present crisis. It hopes England will reconsider Germany’s precarious position, and will recognise that, in the interests of

peace, that ooiio'\ssions ore more agreeable than a d-issa*isliod Germany.

GERMANY TEARS OFF MA|SK,

PARIS, October 14

The French newspapers are unanimous that Germany has torn off her mask. They state she has trampled down (fourteen years of organisation for peace. She ha s isolated herself, and is opening the door for an armament race.

M. Boncour. has conferred with Premier Daladier. Jt is understood that France has gone to her extreme limit of possible -concession.

FOUR POWER PACT CHALLENGED

ROME, O'ciooer 14

Germany’s action is interpreted as a challenge to the Four Power Pact. Some consider that it may only he a ruse to obtain further concessions.

•■Signor Mussolini may call a hurried meeting of the signatories to the pact.

DANGERS OF RE-ARMAMENT

LONDON, October 14

Mr Baldwin, in a broadcast, said British trade’ was slowly and steadily improving. Confidence was returning. Jn reference to the disarmament question. he said no nation since the war had done more in the interests of world peace than Britain. Ho said: "There can be no doubt of one thing. If one re-arm ament began in Europe, not only would the danger’s of war become of far more serious menace, but the competition in armament's which would result woy.:!d impose an intolerable burden of taxation on the people of evory country.

COMMENT IN FRENCH PRESS

PATH'S. October 14

Referring to the German crisis, the p-per “Le Temps” declares : “The world, more than ever, is going to live dangerously.” “Le Temps” makes the remark apropos of the Hitler' thunderbolt, which has astounded France. “Liberte” is of the opinion that ,the crucial question is whether Britain and Italy will support France in checkin2 Germany’s warlike Tartly. British quarters in Paris are not surprised. They declare that it was the only thing that. Germany would do to avoid being pilloried by Europe