RHINELAND OCCUPATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20190, 30 August 1927, Page 9

RHINELAND OCCUPATION

REDUCTION OF TROOPS. BRITISH PROPOSALS AGREED TO. (British Official Wireless.) (Press Association— By Telegraph—Copyright ) RUGBY, August 27. The French Cabinet yesterday, after a long discussion, agreed to reductions in the three armies of occupation in the Rhineland, as proposed by the British Government. The present constitution of the occupying forces is; France, 56,500; Great B.*itain, 7300; Belgium, 6300; or a total of 70,100. The French Governrnent had agreed to a reduction of the combined armies by 10,000 men, but had declared that it could not without danger to French security reduce its own army of occupation by more than 5000. This would have entailed a much larger reduction proportionately in the small British and Belgian forces. By the British proposal, which France now accepts, the French Government agrees to a proportionate reduction. This will mean a reduction of 8050 in the French force, 900 in the Belgian, and 1050 in the British. The French Government, however, reserves the right, in the event of Great Britain or Belgium deciding later to withdraw any more of their troops, to replace them bv French troops.

GERMANY DISAPPOINTED. DEMOCRATIC PAPERS BITTER. (Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright.) BERLIN, August 28. The press and official circles are disappointed at the reduction in the arniy of occupation by only 10,000, which is not regarded as .fulfilment of the promises of November, 1925. The Allgemeine Zeitung says that .Sir Austen Chamberlain has again bowed to the orders of Marshal Foch, and that Lord Cecil’s protest will disappear into the French General staff s archives. The friends of the League of Nations and the Locarno policy proved weak, and Marshal Foch triumphant. It will have to be decided whether Locarno shill live or die. The Democratic papers are especially bitter. Germania asserts that the world has lost its sense of humour, since it is still talking of Germany threatening France’s security.—A. and N.Z. and Sydney Sun Cable. BRITAIN’S ATTITUDE. NO DISCUSSION WITH GERMANY. LONDON, August (Received August 29, at 7.20 p.m.) The Paris correspondent of the Daily Express states that there is really a -reservation to the withdrawal of 8000 French troops from the Rhineland. That figure is conditional on the nominal strength of the French army being 56,000, whereas it is really less, therefore the number 8000 must bo correspondingly diminished. Le Journal, commenting on the AngloFrench Rhineland agreement, declares that the best passage in the British Note states categorically that the question of the' Rhineland forces must be dealt with by the Allies alone, and adds that consequently there can be no discussion at Geneva with the Germans regarding a large reduction. The advantage of Britain making such a definite statement outweighs the French sacrifices. The presen reduction brings the forces to an irreducible minimum.—A. and N.Z. Cable.