ARMS OF GERMANY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19510, 14 December 1926, Page 13

ARMS OF GERMANY.

SATISFYING THE ALLIES A COMPROMISE REACHED. FRAMING NEW PROPOSALS. FUTURE CONTROL SCHEME. THE LEAGUE TO SUPERVISE. By Telegraph—-Press Association—Copyright (Received 10 p.m.) 'A. «id N.Z. LONDON. Dec. 13. After discussions extending over 18 months, 'more than a hundred difficult matters, which divided Germany and the 'Allies in connection with the Treaty of [Versailles have been settled. The final difficulty proved to be the problem of the disarmament of Germany. It was discussed at length by the Council of the League of Nations, those present being: Sir Austen Chamberlain (Britain), jr. Vandervelde (Belgium), M. Briand (France); lierr Stresemann (Germany), Signor Pcioloja (Italy), and Count Ishii (Japan). They agreed that the Inter-Allied Military Control Commission shall cease functioning in Germany on January 31, 1927, when it will be replaced by the League's Investigating Commission. In the meantime the Inter-Allied Commission will examine fresh proposals which Germany is submitting regarding fortifications on her eastorn frontier, and the export of war materials. If they do not agree the points in dispute will be submitted to the League's Commission. Germany undertook to suspend military work pn the eastern frontier. Fortresses on FrontierThe Allies admitted that Germany had earned out most of her obligations, but France regarded the fortresses on Germany's eastern frontier and Germany's capacity to export semi-finished war material as dangerous to herself and Poland, and refused her assent to giving up the right of supervision over German armaments until matters were disposed of. Germany offered to submit the matters in dispute to arbitration. M. Briand urged acceptance of this, but the French Cabinet, which had been sitting all day, persisted in its refusal to agree. Finally, Herr Stresemann, fearing that M. Briand would resign, agreed that if a majority of members of the Council of the League of Nations deemed it necessary the Council should investigate the matter of disarmament.

Between new and January 31 the German Government and the Allied Commission will endeavour to como to terms regarding disarmament. After January control by the League of Nations and international supervision will be substituted for control by the Allies. The change is likely to prove less' humiliating to Germany than the present form of control. If Germany is unable to satisfy the Allies the matter of her eastern fortresses and the question of the exportation of unfinished war material will be considered by the Council of the League, presumably at its meeting next March. Comment in Germany. Great 'relief was expressed in Leaguo circles at Geneva at tho news of the agreement. 'Apprehension was previously engendered by the lengthy iiittings of the " Big Six M and the frequent requests of M. Briand and Herr Stresemann" for instructions from their Governments. Messages from Paris state there wore heated discussions in Cabinet throughout the day before assent was given to the compromise whereby M. Briand obtained Herr Stresemann's assent. M. Poincare had to use all his powers of persuasion with the Nationalist section of Cabinet, pointing out that unless M. Briand was supported the long battle for France had been fought in vain.'

Messages from Berlin state that the acceptance by the League of most of the German demands is regarded as a victory for the German Government, but the Nationalist organs criticise the settlement, on the ground that France is able to influence the League Council. The newspaper Deutsche AlJgemeina Zeitung significantly comments that Germany is still unjustly subjected to partisanship in connection with the Treaty of Versailles. " But," the newspaper adds, "we have now a new weapon. Germany has taken another step toward secovery."