DISARMAMENT PLAN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21327, 31 October 1932, Page 9

DISARMAMENT PLAN

M. HERRIOT EXPLAINS

FRENCH CHAMBER DEBATE

MR. MacDONALD ASSAILED

REBUKE ADMINISTERED

GERMAN CASE REVIEWED

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received October 80, 5.5 p.m.) PARIS, Oct. 29 An attack launched on the British Prime Minister, Mr. Mac Donald, and a retort by the French Prime Minister, M. Herriot, enlivened the disarmament debate in the Chamber of Deputies. In the course of the debate general conscription and the dissolution of the Reichswehr were disclosed as the salient points of M. Herriot's plan. M. Bouillon declared that he shuddered at the name Mac Donald. France would be under the German yoke if she depended on him alone. Mr. Mac Donald had tried desperately in 1914- to prevent Britain from participating in the Great War, and he had continued his political activities during the war. M. Herriot stigmatised M. Bouillon's remarks as unjust and imprudent, and said they would increase the difficulty of international negotiations, if allowed to go uncontradicted.

Replying to M. Leon Blum (Socialist), M. Herriot denied that General Weygand had delayed the disarmament plan. IPor and Against the Germans M. Blum advocated progressive disarmament as the only means of preventing Germany from rearming, an event which he said would lead to an armament race which would end eventually in war. The future of Europe—peace or war—for decades was in M. Herriot's hands, and M. Blum urged him to seize the last chance, and take the word of Germany, which threatened to rearm only, if general disarmament were refused.

M. Herriot reiterated his faith in the Locarno pact, and in Britain's signature to it.

M. Bouillon declared that M. Herriot should not have propounded his plan, any more than M. Tardien. Germany was notentitled to invoke Article V. of the Treaty of Versailles, because she had violated all her engagements. Britain and America were doing their best to strengthen Germany. France had been duped at Locarno and should not have gone to Lausanne. Inquiries should be made into German armaments before negotiations were continued. House's Confidence in M. Herriot - M. Herriot said the German rearmament plan had originated with. General von Seeckt and the General Staff. It provided for an army - of shock troops, recruited from soldiers of six years' service, and supported by another army comprised of all the elements - of the nation.

M. Herriot added that France would accept a general organisation of reduced short-time service for metropolitan land, armies, providing that all bodies not in conformity therewith, for example, the Beichswehr, were disbanded; internationally regulated internal police forces (with the right of investigation as organised at Locarno and completed by the European pacts of mutual assistance), providing a force sufficient to suppress aggression; also compulsory arbitration in all disputes. The United States shodld grant guarantees of security to members' of the League of Nations and undertake to fulfil the • obligations of article 16 of the Covenant. He would ask the Chamber to ratify the plan if it were adopted at Geneva. The scheme presented no danger to France, who would rally round her all the friend 3

necessary. ' 5 ,, M. Herriot received an ovation on leaving the tribune. The House then carried a vote of confidence in him by 430 votes to 20. Two Further Points in Plan A communique issued this evening add* two points to M. Harriot's proposals. The first is that Franco would agree to a generalisation of reduction of short-term service for all metropolitan land forces, provided that disarmament were made inter-dependent between land, sea and air armies.

The second point provides that nations , with responsibilities for overseas territories should retain specialised forces.

An official who was associated with the preparation of the plan explains that it was deliberately made elastic. There was no question of resuscitating the protocol with its provision for compulsory armed assistance. The plan merely proposed regional mutual assistance, thus completing Locarno. It did not mean that Britain would be asked to join an eastern Locarno or to supply troops for a common army held in readiness to suppress aggression, which would be purely a Continental affair. Neither would it affect armies for colonial service like that of Britain which is not expected to adopi conscription. I 1 BERLIN'S OPINION BASIS FOR DISCUSSION SCHEME SO FAR ACCEPTABLE (Received October SO, 5.5 p.m.) BERLIN, Oct. 29 The German Government considers that M. Harriot's disarmament scheme i* acceptable as a basis for discussion.