FRANCE EXCITED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21278, 3 September 1932, Page 9

FRANCE EXCITED

PRIME MINISTER, BUSY CABINET'S LONG SITTING PRESS ASKED TO BE COO), . By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received September 2,~.ti.15 p.m.) LONDON. Sept. 2 France, most of yesterday, was seething with excitement. The Prime Minister, M. Herriot,, personally asked the press to bo cool pending the Government's careful examination of the matter. The French Cabinet sat nearly four hours to discuss this, and its plans for rentes conversion. Earlier in the day M. Herriot had held a long conversation with Mr. B.onald Campbell, British Minister at Paris, who is in charge of the British Embassy in tho absence of the Ambassador, Lord Tyrrell, who is on leave. The development has given rise to many mis-statements. In the first place, there was no Note in the strict sense. What happened was that Baron von Neurath, having expounded Germany's point of view to the French Ambassador at Berlin on Monday, handed him an aide memoire (otherwise a document embodying tho substance of Germany's demands). In the normal course of diplomatic procedure this would have been treated confidentially. The French Government, would have replied, not directly, but through the German Ambassador at Paris. German official circles profess to re- ! gard the publication of the details of the aide memoire in Paris as a distinctbreach of confidence.

Tlio Paris newspaper Le Temps says the opening of the dossier of Germany's secret, armaments and constant treaty violations would edify international opinion regarding Germany's true aim. Journal des Debates says Germany rearmed would recommence her unsuccessful operation of 1914.

ANOTHER VERSION NATURE OF DOCUMENT DETAILED DEMANDS DENIED (Received September 2, 9.5 p.m.) Time 3 Cable. LONDON Sept. 2. The Paris correspondent of the Times says that although the text of the German aide me moire is not available, it can be stated definitely that it is concerned only with the principle of equality, not with details. The German point of view is shown to be that while the German Government favours the largest possible measure of disarmament on tho lines of the disarmament clauses of the Peace Treaty, it accepts this principle only on the basis of equality of rights.

The document does not contain a definite threat to withdraw from the Disarmament Conference in default of satisfaction, but it is recalled that during the recent discussions at Geneva, Germany plainly intimated'' to the other Powcs that the question of equality of rights must be settled before the conference reassembled, or Germany could not further participate in the proceedings.

It was added that Germany was prepared to begin conversations immediately with any of the Powers. This offer, which met with no l'esponse, is repeated in the aide memoire.