ALLIES DEMANDS NOT CARRIED OUT

Taranaki Daily News, 13 December 1926, Page 9

ALLIES DEMANDS NOT CARRIED OUT

DISSATISFACTION WITH GERMAN DISARMAMENT —— ALLEGED FORTIFICATIONS ON THE EASTERN FRONTIER CONTROL OF RHINELAND DISTRICT NOT YET SETTLED (Press Association —Copyright.) Received December 12, 5.5 p.m. Paris, December 10. The Ambassadors 1 Conference at a two hours’ meeting discussed German disarmament, on which they are reporting to the foreign ministers now assembled at Geneva. It is understood that the Allied military experts unanimously agreed that Germany had not completed disarmament as demanded by the Allies. The explanation of the German, General Conpawels, regarding the eastern fortifications and the traffic in war material, was not regarded as satisfactory,- It if expected that the foreign ministers will make the next move.

The Allies argue that if they made a concession to Germany in connection with war material traffic they must treat the other ex-enemy countries in a similar manner. The ambassadors reached a deadlock over the question of the German Eastern fortifications. The Control Commission’s experts who visited Konigsberg, reported that new works of an ultra modern type had been constructed over a primeter of many miles, but the Germans argue that nothing has been done in contravention of the Treaty of Versailles. The Allies reply that the treaty allows the maintenance in the condition they were in in 1919, but does not sanction new and formidable works. Received Dee. 12, 5«5 p.m. Geneva, Dec. 11. It is stated on the highest authority that the failure of the ambassadors tn agree on the question of German disarmament will not jeopardise an agreement here, though admittedly there are still some difficulties to be overcome. It is suggested the settlement will

.include a declaration that the problem of the . control of the Rhineland cannot be solved on the basis of the Versailles Treaty, and therefore it is referred to the Locarno signatories. This will mean that it will be discussed later, either at a special meeting of the five signatories to the Locarno pact or through diplomatic channels. Alternatively, it is pointed out, recourse to the Hague International Court is provided for in the Locarno pacts, and would be a logical procedure to straighten out the Franco-German difficulties. Dr. Stresemann persists in opposing M. Briand’s proposal for the control of the Rhineland by a joint committee of the nations who are parties to the Locarno paet outside the jurisdiction of the League of Nations. The Germans also strongly oppose the request that they pass legislation forbidding the export of half finished products that can be turned into war material abroad, Dr. Stresemann arguing that it might cripple the export trade of important industries such as that of optical instruments.