BRITAIN BLAMED

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1933, Page 7

BRITAIN BLAMED

WITHDRAWAL OF GERMANY

BARON NEURATH COMPLAINS

“DISTORTION OF DEMANDS”

FOUR-POWER MOVE DROPPED

UNANIMITY OF THE WORLD

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 7 p.m. London, Oct. 17. As anticipated, the proposal to submit to the Disarmament Commission the four-Power resolution embodying no rearmament, disarmament by stages and control as a basis of future discussions has been dropped because it barred the door against Germany. Mr. Arthur Hnderson to-day emphasised that every Government’s duty was to uphold the League covenant and the Paris Pact, enabling disarmament and securing peace. “We cannot allow international anarchists to undermine law and order,” he said. The Moscow correspondent of the Manchester Guardian states that the Soviet Press interprets the breach in the League and the Disarmament Conference as a most serious threat to peace. There is no sympathy with the German policy. Dr. Goebbels assured foreign newspapermen that the German election referendum would be absolutely free and strict and democracy would be observed, says a Berlin cable. German newspapers have been' officially warned not to indulge in violent attacks on Britain but to confine necessary hostile comments to individual Ministers.

The Berlin correspondent of the Times reports that no Opposition candidates will be tolerated at the elections. The voting papers will mention only the Nazi Party, with a circle printed alongside wherein the voters must make a cross; otherwise the papers will be invalid. It will thus be impossible to vote against the Nazis.

Conversations opened between the British, French and German Ambassadors at Rome to-day, but the purpose of the meeting was not disclosed. A German Embassy announcement emphasises that Germany does not consider the FourPower Pact is affected by the events at Geneva.

Baron von Neurath blames Britain for Germany’s withdrawal, alleging that the details of Germany’s demands were forwarded by London to Washington in so distorted a fashion that it looked as if Germany was making new demands. “We adhered to the British plan,” he said, “but the British plan is not recognised even by the originators. Sir John Simon asserts that we went beyond our former claims. That was not correct. I repudiate the attempt to place on us the responsibility which should fall Ofi others.”

Dr. Goebbels said Germany would harbour no territorial grievances against France when the Saar was returned. No central European problem justified war; nevertheless the Polish Corridor could not be permanent. Germany would not rest until it recovered it, preferably by negotiation. The Times endorses the proposed Disarmament Conference adjournment as affording a breathing space and adds that all other Governments would then be determined to handle the situation calmly with a view do the maintenance of peace by progressive and substantial disarmament. “The most hopeful feature is the world’s almost complete unanimity against Germany, which is the best guarantee of practical co-operation,” the paper adds. “The immediate problem is what collective action can convince Germany of the seriousness of its blunder.”

DISCUSSION IN AUSTRALIA. “CONFERENCE SHOULD PROCEED.” Rec. 10 p.m. Melbourne, Oct. 17. The Federal Cabinet to-day discussed Germany’s action in withdrawing from the League of Nations and the Disarmament Conference. i The Minister of External Affairs, Mr. J. G. Latham, in a statement afterwards, said the Government felt the conference should go on. Although the presence of Germany at the conference was very desirable it was not absolutely essential. “Australia is vitally interested in world peace,” he said, ‘-‘for apart from the human aspect the intense economic nationalism spreading over the world is closing what were our markets and inflicting great loss on our people. The Government is anxious that an agreement should be reached, even for a limited period.”