DISARMAMENT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 20 April 1934, Page 5

DISARMAMENT

RECENT NEGOTIATIONS FRENCH AND GERMAN VIEWS British Official Wireless' RUGBY, 18th April. Further memoranda on Disarmament contained in a White Paper published to-night include notes between the Governments of France, Germany and Britain, statement of views of the Italian Government the text of the memorandum received last week From the Danish, Spanish,, Norwegian, Swedish, and Swiss delegations to the Disarmament Conference.

The last-mentioned memorandum states that in view of the gravity ol the situation it is Ihe duly ol signatories to take into serious consideration any reasonable proposal for increasing guarantees within the limits ot acknowledged obligations of a covenant, and taking into account the special situation occupied .by any state in the League of Nations. “Tn this connection Germany s return to the League would undoubtedly represent an important contribution to a solution of the grave problem of collective security.” On this subject the German Government in a statement of views communicated to the British Government on 16tl. April declare they consider Germany’s letnrn to the League can only be dealt with after a solution of the question of disarmament, and above all of their equality of rights. S|ibjcct to this and other important modifications the German Government expresses its readiness to accept the British mcmoiandum as a basis for .a convention They state they find it impossible to wait two years for appropriate means oi aerial defence. They wish to possess a defensive air force of short-range machines, not including bombing planes, from the beginninsr of the convention, the numerical strength of which would not exceed 30 per cent, of the combined air forces of Germany’s neighbours or 50 per cent, of the un itary aircraft possesLl by France, whoever was less. The claim the Geinmn Government makes without _ prejudice to the result of an air enquiry, which should at least abolish .bombers. Geimany claims that after the first five years necessary reductions and increases should be made so that she should attain full equality of numbers with tlm principal air powers at the end ot W years of the convention. . Other pioposais made in the United Kingdom memorandum, such for example as supervision* are accepted by the 3 man Government. »

GUARANTEES OF EXECUTION, The French Foreign Secretary in a note, on the subject of guarantees of execution of the convention points out that the British communication was received simultaneously with the publication of the German 1934-35 Budget, which showed increases in the expenses of the army, navy, and air force amounting to 352 million marks. In reality the German Government without awaiting the results of the negotiations, which were in progress, wished to impose its determination to continue every form, of rearmament within the limits of which it claims to be the solo, judge in contempt of the provisions ol the Treaty, which in the absence of any other convention continue to govern its armaments. Facts of. such exceptional gravity can lead’’to "only one 1 observation and conclusion. Thgy prove that the German Government, whether, ol set purpose or not, have In tide impossible negotiations on a basis of winch it has, by its own act, destroyed even befoio seeking to discover \vhether an agreement could be obtained upon a system of guarantees sufficiently effiicacious .to permit the signature of a convention which would result in the substantial rearmament of Germany. France must place in the forefront of her pre-occu-pations conditions of her own security which she does not separate from that of other interested powers. The return of Germany to the League might have furnished an opportunity and a means of dissipating, at least in part, these preoccupations. The presence of Germany at the Geneva Assembly would be no less indispensable for the realisation of a satisfactory system of guarantees of execution. On this point of capital importance, however, Mr Eden, Lord Privy Seal, was not able to bring from Berlin any favourable solution, • and the silence observed in the course of the most recent communications does not permit of better hopes. Experience of the last war horrors, of which Franco had to endure more than any other country, imposes on her the duty of showing prudence. She appreciates friendly action of the British Government in wishing to seek with her effective guarantees for execution of a Convention, and she regrets that the action of a third party should abruptly have rendered vain such negotiations.

BRITISH PRESS OPINION

GERMANY’S BELLICOSE DEMEANOUR (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, 19th April. The French Note constitutes the leading news in all papers. Editorials unanimously regard the disarmament negotiations in the latest form as dead. The “Morning Post” says: “If Germany finds herself encircled in consequence of her bellicose demeanour, the encirclement will ho of her own seeking. Meantime, let Britain see that her defences are effective for the prevention of war.” ‘‘The Times” says: “It is certainly regrettable that Germany is organising aerodromes in demilitarised zones, but it is more important to look forward than hack. The essential question is whether military preparations nya going beyond the'legitimate "requirements of national defence. The Lest way to keep a check on her rearmament must surely he a system of investigation which can only follow the conclusion of a convention.”

The “Daily Telegraph” says: “Tt would he as foolish as impossible to conceal the fact that the Note beneath its courteous wording rejects all schemes for the, limitation of armaments proposed by the British and Italian Governments. France shows her traditional realism. No move, on the, part of the German Government could have been less fortunately timed than the recent announcement to increase her arms estimates. The powers are now left free to make their* own arrangements.”

GERMAN ARMAMENTS INCREASED EXPENDITURE TREATY OF VERSAILLES British Ollioinl Wireless RUGBY, 19 th April. Asked whether now that he had received a reply from the German Government in regard to increased expenditure on armaments he could make a statement as to its hearing on. the Treaty of Versailles, and if ho, intended to Lake any action, Mr Eden, Lord Privy Seal, replied on behalf of Sir John Simon that lie was unable at present to make any further statement.