AFFAIRS IN EUROPE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3804, 8 February 1927, Page 51

AFFAIRS IN EUROPE.

THE GERMAN CABINET BERLIN, January 31. President Hindenburg has appointed Herr Walter von Keudell and Dr Hergt Ministers of the Interior and Justice respectively. The later is also Vice-Chan-cellor. Both are German Nationalists. it was only after a prolonged stormy meeting that the German National Party in the Reichstag agreed to yield to the entreaties of the President and drop Dr Graef as a candidate for Ministerial office. Herr von Keudell is regarded as one of the more progressive members of the German National Party. He has been a member of the Reichstag since 1924. He was formerly the provincial Governor of Prussia. It is rumoured that a movement is in progress to supplant Dr Gessler at the Ministery of War by a member of the German Pcoide’s Party.

GERMAN DISARMAMENT. BERLIN, January 31. The Inter-Allied Military Commission officially ceases to-night. A few officers will remain to wind up its affairs. In the course of seven years the Commission ordered the destruction of 50.000 guns, 100,000 machine guns, over 14,000 aeroplanes, 27,000 aeroplane engines and many millions of shells and small arms. PARIS, February 1. The Inter-Allied Military Committee has reached an agrement regarding Germany’s disarmament, providing for the destruction of the fortifications at Kustrin, Glogau, and Konigsberg and the definition of a frontier zone in East Prussia, in which no fortifications are allowed beyond those noted in 1920. Germany undertakes to pass a Bill regulating the production and LONDON, February 2.

An historic scene occurred in Paris yesterday when the Inter-Allied Military Control Commission ceased to exist, and the German disarmament question at last was settled three weeks beyond the time limit fixed at Geneva. Germany haggled with all her might during the negotiations regarding the eastern fortifications and appeared detezmined to maintain demands in the face of all concessions from the Allies. The agreement reached is most complicated, but roughly the Allies permit Germany to retain certain works in Loetzen and ’ Konigsberg, inasmuch as they are not considered to be an increase of her defensive strength, but they stipulate the destruction of the principal works south of Konigsberg and those at Kustrin and Glogau which might be considered dangerous from the point of view of Poland. Germany undertakes to construct no new works on the frontier zone defined in the agreement and gives her word that no other fortifications exist than those disclosed. With reference to war material Germany undertakes to get a Bill passed by the Reichstag prohibiting the manufacture of warships and submarines together with the boilers and engines for such vessels, naval guns, apparatus for the projection of poison gas and flames, periscopes, armour plating, tanks, armoured cars, grenades, bombs, air torpedoes, minethrowers, machine guns, rifles, revolvers, and motor transport for military purposes. The Bill also includes the prohibition of the import or export of war materia], the prohibition of the manufacture, storage, or trade in material for internal use ranging from artillery to field kitchens, and also the prohibition of the manufacture of the components of war material and machinery and their production, although parts which may normally be utilised for other purposes are exempted. These are only the most important provisions in a very lengthy document. PARIS. February 2. Dr Stresemann has addressed a Note to the Government denying the rumours that the new members of the German Cabinet have disagreed regarding the confirmation of the disarmament and war material settlements. On the contrary, he says, the decision was sanctioned unanimously. • _ A second Note affirms that the Berlin section of the Welirwolf organisation has been dissolved, and further military activities prohibited. French diplomatic circles are greatly pleased by these unexpected Notes, which are regarded as further proof that the Locarno spirit still prevails in Germany, and that a real effort at agreement is being mad? by both Berlin and Paris.-

GERMAN REPARATIONS. WASHINGTON, February 4. The State Department announces that an agreement has been concluded with Germany providing for the payment to the United States of its 2J per cent, share iu the German reparations under the Dawes plan. Approximately 5,800,000 dollars are due for the year ending August 31, 1927, and approximately 10,700,000 dollars per annum thereafter. The agreement does not cover the American army of occupation costs now being repaid at the rate of 13,000,000 dollars per annum. The present arrangement may be terminated by either party not earlier than June 1, 1927, and becomes effective on Sept. 1, 1927, or in subsequent years on and for the same dates in the respective years. STORMY SCENES IN THE REICHSTAG. BERLIN, February 5. There were stormy scenes in the Reichstag before the Government received a vote of confidence. The Socialist, Herr Landsberg, attacked the Minister of the Interior, von Heudel, whom he accused -J

co-operating with the monarchists against the Ebert Government. Von Heudel attempted to defend himself amidst uproar until Dr Marx promised that the Government would investigate the charges. The Reichstag adjourned for an hour, during which time the Centre Party decided to support the Government on the assumption that the charges' had been disproved. A Communist motion in favour of Germany quitting the League of Nations was defeated by 364 votes to 46. , GREEK POLITICS. ; ATHENS, February 2. Parliament, by 133 votes to 92, passed a Bill for the creation of a Senate. -. A curious fact is that the project is supported by the Republicans and opposed by the Royalists.