GERMANY’S CLAIM

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 241, 10 September 1932, Page 7

GERMANY’S CLAIM

EQUALITY IN ARMS

REPLY BY FRANCE

INFORMATION FOR BRITAIN.

(United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) Received September 10, 11.30 a.m. RUGBY, Sept. 9.

The French Ambassador called this morning at lire Foreign Office and was received by Sir John Simon, to whom M. do Fleuriau handed for his information a draft of tho Note which the French Government are despatching in answer to tho German Government’s Note of August 29. In view of certain statements to the contrary which have appeared it was necessary to make it clear that the document was communicated not for the purposes of consultation, but of information. Sir Jolm Simon thanked M. do Fleuriau for his courtesy. It will bo recalled that the German Note has already been handed to His Majesty’s Government for information. The Government are thus fully in possession of tho facts in regard to tho latest phase of tho Franco-German conversations which will continue to receive their very careful study.

Tho German Nolo claiming equality in arms declared that Germany is prepared to accept any prohibition of weapons applying to all countries. Germany demanded the reduction of the existing term of twelvo years’ military service and tho establishment of a militia forco with shortterm training for the maintenance of internal order and the defenco of the coasts and frontiers. A demand was made that tho armaments of other countries be reduced to a point which, with due regard to the special conditions in each country, will correspond with the stato of armament forced upon Germany by the Versailles Treaty. . Germany refused to bo treated as a second-class Stato, but would be satisfied as a beginning with a certain modification of armaments, believing that the second Disarmament Convention will bring a reduction of armaments for highly, armed nations. Germany was ready to discuss plans for tho security of all other States. Baron von Neurath conluded by saying: “Germany is not in a position to participate in futuro disarmament conferences unless the question of equality has been previously and fundamentally settled.”

Tho French Government’s reply is stated to declare that direct negotiations between France and Germany on armaments uro impossible and that the matter should be referred to tho League of Nations, if it is a caso of cancellation of military clauses of tfio Versailles Treaty, or to the Disarmament Conference if it concerns a general reduction of armaments. Probably no objection would bo made to Germany proposing at Geneva a re-organisation of her army provided it involved no increase in effectives.

DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE.

MEETING OF BUREAU CALLED

(British Official Wireless.) Received September 10, 11.30 a.m. RUGBY, Sept. 9. A Geneva message states that a meeting of tho bureau of the Disarmament Conference has been called for September 21 following the exchange of correspondence between Mr A. Henderson and Sir Eric Drummond, the Secretary-General of the League. According to a resolution of the Disarmament Conference, such conventing cannot be postponed, though should Germany fail to send a representative to the meeting, the Bureau has power to adjourn its deliberations to a later date.