GERMANY AND SECURITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19859, 1 February 1928, Page 11

GERMANY AND SECURITY.

RHINELAND OCCUPATION. ENGLAND'S WORD TRUSTED. FRENCH ATTITUDE CRITICISED. SPEECH BY HERR STRESEMANN. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received January 31. 5.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z.-Sun. BERLIN, Jan. 30. The German Foreign Mjnister, Herr Stresemann, in the course of a speech on foreign affairs, said: "Are the words, "the might of England,' valueless to Frenchmen, who clamour for still greater security ? Does anybody doubt the ability of England and Franca to cope with the Reichswehr, or of England Id keep its pledged word ?" Herr Stresemann said no country had outstripped Germany in solving the security problem. It was hypocrisy to demand security against Germany, which country could scarcely defend its own frontiers and the lives of its inhabitants. It had been repeatedly declared that cannon and machine guns must disappear, but they were directed against a nation which was co-operating with the League of Nations, and with which international political differences were non-existent. English voices had more loudly asked why British troops were still in the Rhineland, and English publicists regarded the continued occupation as a misfortune. Germany would not reject a discussion on the control of the frontier, but would not buy the evacuation of the Rhineland with obligations exceeding those imposed under the Versailles Treaty, and thus perpetuate mistrust and prejudice an effective peace policy. RECEPTION IN FRANCE. SHARP RETORT PREDICTED. THE VIEWPOINT OF BRITAIN. (Received January 31, 8.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z. LONDON. Jan. 31. The diplomatic correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says Herr Stresemann's trenchant language has caused a certain amount of surprise. It is almost certain to draw a sharp retort from the Premier of France, M. Poincare, if not from M. Briand, French Foreign Minister. British quarters, however, are inclined to view the speech mainly as one intended for iemdtic consumption, as Herr was constrained to dwell upon the demand for a withdrawal of the Allied troops from the Rhineland in order to prevent the Nationalists from accusing him of being timorous in pressing their claim.