REFUSAL TO DISARM

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 242, 13 May 1933, Page 6

REFUSAL TO DISARM

German Chaise Against Nations STATEMENT CAUSES WIDESPREAD STIR Press Association.-- -Copyright. London, .May LI. Baron von Neurath declares that IT) months' discussion at Geneva lias proved the refusal of highly-armed States to disarm and negatived Germany's demand for equality. Even such disarmament as might be adopted would compel Germany to create a military, naval and Air Force and higher calibre guns. Those refusing to accept for themselves the restrictions imposed on Germany at Versailles should nol rcpva-c'i " nnany. Germany's standpoint was nv jily unimpeachable. Baron von Neurath's statement is regarded as brutal, and it has caused a widespread stir as it is the first such declaration from a responsible German statesman. "The Germans refuse to recognise intellectual and moral grounds of humanity and seem to be deliberately cutting themselves off from civilisation," said Professor Haldane when addressing the London University Union prior to the passage of a resolution protesting against the persecution of the Jews and the appointment of committees to fight Hitlerism.

Professor Haldano added that murders and mutilations were relatively unimportant compared with the attempt to starve millions of Jews to death in default of ! departure from the country. Hitlerism was more terrible than Bolshevism. Persecution of the Jews was only the beginning. Most Britons were tending to recognise coloured peoples as equals, as France already did, to the horror of Herr Hitler, who branded coloured people as untouchable. "We must smash Hitlerism by economic pressure, succour the refugees, prevent the spread of German Fascism here and boycott German goods, if necessary forcibly," he said. Professor Lancelot Hogben said nobody was more responsible than Mr. MacDonald for placing and keeping Herr Hitler in the saddle. A Cabinet sub-committee including Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, Mr. Stanley Baldwin, Sir John Simon, Mr. J. H. Thomas and service Ministers met this morning to discuss the disarmament crisis, which is causing the gravest anxiety. An acute crisis has arisen over Baron von Neurath's article, which aggravated the situation and led to a great sensation and hostile reception, says the Geneva correspondent of the Manchester Guardian. Even Germany's friends declare it a gross blunder. Rec. 10.30 p.m. London, May 12. Viscount Cecil in the House of Lords to-day raised questions concerning the Far East and the Disarmament Conference. He said that as Japan had insolently defied the League of Nations Britain, apart from international action, might at least have taken as strong action as it did against Russia when it imposed an embargo. Regarding Germany and the Disarmament Conference Viscount Cecil said they had reached a crisis in international affairs. It was of the utmost importance that they should have a vigorous and consistent policy. Lord Parmoor said Britain ought to take the lead to bring peace to China and Japan. Lord Hailsham said Britain's policy in Manchuria was to continue full co-opera-tion with the League of Nations. The cases of Russia and Japan were not parallel. Britain had already given notice to terminate the Russian trade agreement, but its commercial agreement with Japan could not be renounced for a year. Regarding disarmament the Government had acted with courage, almost foolhardiness, in disarming in the hope that other nations would do the same. He claimed that Mr. Ramsay MacDonald's intervention had twice avoided a deadlock in the Disarmament Conference. The British draft convention was the fulfilment of Britain's promises to Germany. If Germany declined to participate in the discussions she must take the responsibility of failure. In this event Germany would be bound by the Versailles Treaty and any attempt on her part to re-arm would bring into operation the treaty's sanctions.

REASON FOR BREAKDOWN Press Association —Copyright Geneva, May 11. The breakdown of the disarmament discussions yesterday occurred over the question whether Herr Hitler's large irregular forces are to be regarded as part of the Germany army under the British plan. The effectives committee voted by 9 to 2 in favour of the inclusion of such troops. The voting was:— For: Britain, France, Belgium, Holland, Poland, Portugal, Roumania, Czechoslovakia, Jugo-Slavia. Against: Germany, Hungary. Abstentions from voting were America, Italy, Austria, Spain, Finland, Japan, Sweden and Turkey. The significance of the vote lies in the •'act that a fortnight ago the committee decided Germany's special armed police must be included in its military organisation and has now decided to include the whole Nazi organisation. It is announced that private negotiations which have been proceeding during the last two days between Mr. R. A. Eden, the British delegate, and Herr Nadolny, German delegate, have failed entirely. A meeting of the committee of five to consider the new situation was held to-night under the chairmanship of Mr. Arthur Henderson. The committee after 2\ hours failed to overcome the difficulties and are reporting to the bureau to-day.