A GRAVE CRISIS

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18944, 15 May 1933, Page 7

A GRAVE CRISIS

ARMAMENTS ISSUE.

THE GERMAN STANDPOINT.

CRITICAL WEEK IN GENEVA,

HERR HITLER TO EXPLAIN,

United Press Assn o^’ /f'

A message from Geneva states that the chief German delegate to the Disarmament Conference, Herr Nadolny, has left for Berlin to discuss the position with the German Cabinet. Accordingly Mr. Arthur Henderson has postponed the disarmament discussion until May 18. , tl _ There is every Indication that there is another critical week before Europe. The postponement of Monday’s meeting of the Disarmament Conference Is regarded as the wisest course, indeed as inevitable after the recall' of Herr Nadolny from Geneva and Dr. Rosenberg from London preparatory to Herr Hitler’s speech in the Reichstag next Wednesday. The bureau of the conference reviewed the efforts made in private conversation to resolve the deadlock caused by the German proposal to remove from the draft disarmament convention the chapters dealing with the standardisation of Continental armies. In order to clarify the position It was decided to hold a general debate on all disarmament problems. It Is this discussion which has been postponed. When the conference sits on May 18 It is hoped that the German delegation will be in a position to explain fully their reasons for their amendments. Feeling Irt France. A message from Paris states that all France Is aware of the gravity of the position at Geneva. The speeches of Viscounts Hallsham and Cecil in the House of Lords have made a deep impression. They have led the Foreign Minister, >M. Paul Boncour, to remark in a statement to the press that these speeches justified France’s attitude at Geneva and that Britain united with France in saying that if, owing to Germany’s obstinacy, the Disarmament Conference should fail to secure a general convention on armaments reduction, the Versailles Treaty will still he enforced. M. Boncour hinted that the time was approaching for the publication of the famous secret French dossier on German armaments.

The Berlin correspondent''of the British United Press says it is being emphasised there that the situation at Geneva Is not hopeless. Reports in the foreign press are regarded as attempts to blame Germany for a possible rupture. It is suggested that the question of Germany’s semi-military organisations could be solved, also It Is emphasised in official circles that Germany deeply regrets the turn of events because her original Intentions were quite different. Political Pressure. Official circles in Germany regard the speeches in the House of Lords as significant, since apparently they were intended to exert political pressure. Accordingly there Is great interest in Herr Hitler’s coming statement in the Reichstag on Wednesday which will mark his first intervention in foreign affairs. A communique states that the Chancellor; in addition to a reference to disarmament, intends to discuss unambiguously Germany’s attitude on world politics. Also he will explain Germany’s desires for the disarmament of other countries.

Herr Hitler, furthermore, will oppose the Geneva deolsion that Germany’s uniformed political bodies should be regarded as part of the army while France does not contemplate limiting her war material. The communique adds regarding M. Boncour’s references to the possession of a secret dossier on German armaments: “Anything old in the dossier Is well known; anything new Is false." SENTIMENT AT GENEVA. A MOMENTOUS WEEK. REAL PROBLEMS LOOMING. United Press Assn.—El»o Tel. Copyright GENEVA, May 12. Next week we shall be confronted with the real problems of disarmament, said Mr A. Henderson In addressing the Bureau after Us adoption of the proposal for a debate, which it is hoped will dissolve the deadlock although there is little at present to justify that belief. The Germans, however, are relieved at the decision because they felt the Bureau’s immediate vote \vsuid have isolated Germany. Lord Ilailsham’s warning to Germany is generally hailed with satisfaction here, it has forced the Germans to realise that British sympathy and goodwill, on which they counted would be greatly diminished by their isolation. This is daily more manifest.