GERMANY OUT

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 563, 17 September 1932, Page 1

GERMANY OUT

WILL NOT ATTEND ARMS CONFERENCE. Note to Mr Henderson. HER CLAIM FOR EQUALITY MUST BE SATISFIED FIRST. United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. (Received September 17, 11.30 a.m.) GENEVA, September 16 Germany has given notification of her inability' to attend the Disarmament Conference Bureau session on September 21, on the ground that her claim for equality' of status in armaments has not been satisfied. The Note is signed by Dr von Neurath and is addressed to Mr Arthur Henderson, President. It declares that it is clear that any' future Disarmament Convention will fall far short of the settlement laid down in the Versailles Treaty, and Germany cannot be expected to participate in negotiations for a convention until it is established that the solution which may be found will be equally applied to her. Diplomatic exchanges with France have not led to a satisfactory result. Though unable to attend the Bureau, Germany- is convinced that thorough-going, general disarmament is urgently necessary for ensuring peace. She will follow the discussions with interest and will determine her future i attitude thereby.

THREAT TO LEAGUE.

Danger of Break-up Again Stressed. LONDON, September 16. The diplomatic correspondent of the “ Daily Herald ” reads into the recent statement by Signor Mussolini that Germany’s withdrawal from the Disarmament Conference would result in its paraly-sis and adjournment indefinitely'. It would also be a mortal blow to the League of Nations.

The hint that the failure of the Conference would in all probability be followed by- the resignation of Germany and Italy’ from the League of Nations also suggests that Japan’s resignation may' possibly' result from the decisions in reference to the claims regarding China’s integrity. The correspondent of the British United Press at Berlin says that Geeman v has officially' notified Mr Arthur ■ Henderson, chairman of the Disj armament Conference, that she will be unable to participate in the resumption of the conference until her demand for arms equality' is recognised.

Gas Masks Sold With Hats in Germany.

LONDON, September 8. In the whole extent of Europe, the most astonishing political event—and to those who have the cause of peace at -heart, the most disquieting event—is the renaissance of the militarist Junker ruler* in Germany. That the moderate Republican leaders who have had charge of the German foreign policy since the war were the real leaders !of the German people, many good j judges, especially- in France, have genuinely doubted. ! The great rally of the German “ Steel Helmets,” in the presence of the exCrown Prince and war-time generals has its counterpart in the streets of Berlin, where a hatter's shop displays gas masks priced “ to suit all sizes.” Abroad, as in France, the recent Governmental changes in Germany have bred a fear that the old German military caste is preparing to throw off the shackles of the Peace Treatv of Versailles. At home, the Republicans, from the more sober-minded Democrats down to the most ardent “ Reds,” fear that the old ruling caste is paving the way to the complete overthrow of the I Republican Constitution and defiance , of the ejected Reichstag by the force ; of arms. To the Republicans, the rush of events in the last month, from the arbitrary nomination of the notorious von Papen as Chancellor by President von Hindenburg. down to the snub which von Hindenbxirg administered to the new Reichstag’s Speaker—when he told him to stay where he was, in Berlin—have all portended the overthrow of democratic institutions. Day- by day, the Monarchists and the old ruling class are emboldened to fresh self-assertions. The assembly' of the Steel Helmets, on whose support von Papen can rely if the Reichstag dares to challenge his authority, amounted to an open acknowledgment by' the arbitrary' rulers of the Reich and of Prussia, of the Steel Helmets’ place in the new scheme of Government.