GERMANY'S STRENGTH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21291, 19 September 1932, Page 9

GERMANY'S STRENGTH

MILITARY FORCES

DOSSIER IN FRANCE

BRITAIN NOTIFIED [PROFOUND IMPRESSION IHERRIOT'S .FIRM STAND '3y Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received September 18, 5.25 p.m.) PARIS. Sept. 18. The Prime Minister of France, M. Herriot, startled the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Senate when he revealed the fact that the Government is in possession of a complete dossier respecting Germany's military strength. He said it had been communicated to London, where it had created a profound impression. So far as the French Government's atti- ■ tude toward Germany's claim for equal srmaments is concerned M. Herriot's reply was: " Never! Impossible." V EQUALITY IN ARMS POLICY OF BRITAIN STATEMENT IMPENDING (Received September 18. 5.5 .p.m.) CONDON. Sept. 17 The British Foreign Office will issue today an important statement dealing with jUermany's claim to arms equality. Germany has notified her inability to attend the -meeting of the Bureau Disarmament Conference on Wednesday on the ground that her claim to equality of status in armaments has not been satisSued, The Note is signed by Baron von Neuj*ath, Foreign Minister, and is addressed to Mr. Ar{hur Henderson, as president of Jtiie Disarmament Conference. Germany declares it is clear that any ' future disarmament convention will fall far short of the settlement laid down in the Versailles Treaty. 'Germany cannot lie expected to participate in negotiation:! for a convention until it is established that the solution which may be found will be equally applied to her. The diplomatic exchanges with France have not - led to a satisfactory result. Though unable to attend the meeting Id! the bureau, Germany is convinced that thorough-going, general disarmament is urgently necessary to .ensure peace, and "" she will follow the discussions with interest and / will determine her future attitude thereby. ARMS CONFERENCE URGENCY OF BUSINESS MR. HENDERSON'S VIEWS (Received September 18, 5.5 p.m.) DBriUßb Wireless RUGBY', Sept. 17 Mr Arthur Henderson left for Geneva this afternoon to attend the meeting to be ---held on Wednesday of the Bureau of the "" Disarmament Conference. The Foreign Secretary,/ Sir John Simon, who will head the British delegation to the meeting will leave London for Geneva by air on Tues"day. Before leaving for Geneva Mr. Hen3erson said the bureau would immediately give its attention to Germany's letter claiming arms equality. The fact that Germany had intimated that her future attitude would be decided according to the ■ progress made showed that the door wa3 not absolutely closed. Disarmament plans must be formulated immediately, otherwise suspicion would be aroused and the chances of success prejudiced, thus creating a serious position for the world. "We are approaching the crossroads," gajd Mr. Henderson. " The choice is bei. tween disarmament and security and growing armaments and insecurity with this danger of war. If we miss the opportunity to carry the world along the right road its peoples may pay dearly for it.

REICHSTAG ELECTION

NOVEMBER 6 FIXED

AMBASSADORIAL CHANGES (Received September 18. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. IT Despatches from Berlin state that the Heichstag election has been fixed for November 6. It is too early to say what will be the 'dominating issue, but there are signs that, an attempt will be made to rally tiw Whole nation round the President, Marshal ,von Hindenburg. . The Berlin correspondent of the Observer says he thinks more people favour the measures of the Chancellor, Herr von Papen, than" might be inferred from comments in the press. Another message from Berlin states that Dr. L. von Hoesch, German Ambassador at Paris, is to succeed Baron von Neurath in London. Dr. Adolf Koester, senior official at the Foreign Office in London, us Jto succeed Dr. Hoesch.