AGGRESSIVE ARMAMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21772, 11 October 1932, Page 9

AGGRESSIVE ARMAMENT

A NEW FRENCH PROJECT

PARKING IN LEAGUE'S CARE

(United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.)

LONDON, October 9.

M. Herriot is expected to visit Mr Ramsay MacDonald in London next week in order to discuss disarmament. M. Herriot will then probably detail a new French project which ho intends to submit to the Geneva Conference. This provides for simultaneous disarmament spread over five years, the League of Nations to control all the air forces. A tribunal would be chosen to decide who is the aggressor in cases of conflict. Tanks, aeroplanes, and other aggressive armament would be parked under the auspices of the League, and "placed at the disposal of any victim of aggression. FRANCE AND GERMANY. • THE PRESENT POSITION. LONDON, October 9. Mr J. L. Garvin, in an editorial in the Observer, on Franco-German relations, says; “ The present situation is as sinister and menacing as the situation before the war. France, with judicial pleas, is demanding that her position among the nations shall be specially secured and uniquely guaranteed. Germany is claiming full freedom and equality. Ultimately nothing on earth can prevent her from achieving it. On the present lines peace in Europe is almost sure to perish in another catastrophe within five years. In this event it is most improbable that peace -rill be preserved in the Far East or that the United States will escape the greatest conflict in her history. If treaty revision and disarmament are not faced together within a year or two and another Franco-German war becomes inevitable, Britain must at all costs keep out of it.” ‘ THE BRITISH PROPOSAL. FOUR-POWER CONFERENCE. (British Official, Wireless.) RUGBY, October 8. The opinion in official circles is that though the actual text of the German reply has not yet been received the German Government is favourable to the suggestion ioi an exchange of views between Germany, France, Italy and Britain, as proposed by the British Government. The date and place for such an exchange of views are not yet settled. The French Government. has also replied. It is favourable to the meeting, and the Italian Government has shown itself ready to contribute. In British official circles satisfaction is expressed at the initiative of the British Government in trying to bridge the gap that exists. It is considered that if there is a general desire to construct a bridge, the questions of place and date should be easily adjusted.