GERMAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 March 1925, Page 2

GERMAN NEWS.

LATEST CABLE NEWS

(“Sydney Sun” Cables). GERMAN PRESIDENCY. LONDON, -March 4. The “ Morning Post’s” Berlin correspondent says the leaders of the parties have agreed to hold the Presidential election on March 2!)th. If any candidate secures an absolute majority this will he final, but should a second plebiscite he necessary, it will be taken on April 26th. GERMAN ARMY. PARIS, March 3. The Conlerenee of Ambassadors received the Inter-Allied Military Commission’s report, also Marshal Eocll’s Committee’s report, which together, constitute a terrible accusation against Germany of deliberate breaches of the Disaratnuincnt Clauses of the Versailles Treatv.

It is understood the documents preclude a speedy evacuation of Cologne. The Eoeh report asserts they discovered arms hidden throughout Germany, including thousands of tons of machine (gtmis and 'field guns. Germany’s army organisation is designed to increase its strength twenty times on mobilisation. It consists of four officers or non-commissioned officers to every private. The personnel is constantly changed, and thus many more are trained than the one hundred thousand which the Treaty permits. The General Staff (.forbidden by the Treaty) consists of 2-AO fully trained officers. It is estimated that two hundred thousand officers have been intensively trained during the past two years. The “ Green ” Police arc actually a highly-trained second-lino armv. LONDON. March 3. The Earl of Oxford (Mr Asquith) speaking in the House of Lords, asked when the report on German disarmament would be published. He insisted that the evidence should lie published in order that the world should be able to judge. Lord Ctirzon made a non-committal reply. FRANCE’S FEARS. LONDON, March 3. The “ Daily Express” correspondent at Paris understands that in the event of Britain refusing to enter a military pact, there is a strong possiblitv of the drafting of a treaty between France. Poland and Turkey. He says that is the real reason for France’s cordial friendship with Turkey, which l !as been allowed to use the Syrian rail v.av to transport troops against the Kuids. and it also party explains M. Herriot’s acquisceuee in the refusal to hand over Vrangel's fleet to the r-'uvb-l. He says there is an outburst of Polish official propaganda in Paris,

which coincides with tiie French newsclamour that Poland should ho u signatory of any Security Pact.

FOCH’S TASK. PARIS. March 4. The Ambassador's Conference considered the report and the comments thereon hy Marshal Foch’s Military Committee, and decided to ask Marshal Foch’s Committee <1) to lAh exactly the extent of Germany’s failure regarding the constitution of the headquarters staff, the transformation of the old munitions factories, the excess of effectives of the fighting forces, the excess of war material, and th" militarv'.ation of police; (2) to indicate the measures necessary to ensure the disarmament of Germany in accordance with the stipulations of tho Treaty and the conditions upon which the evacuation of Cologne depends.

GF.UM ANY’S SUGGESTIONS. LONDON. March 3. -w The “ Daily Mail ” understands that Germany Inis communicated verbally with the Allied capitals, suggesting a pact of security. She says she is willing to guarantee not to violate the French or Belgian frontiers, to recog® nise Alsace-Lorraine as definitely ceded to France and to admit the permanent demilitarisation of the Rhine zone. The German note omits any suggestions for settling the Polish frontier, but expresses a willingness, on the part of Germany, to undertake not to attack Poland without exhausting diplomatic methods. __ Germany refuses to enter into any engagements concerning Austria, or O.eehn-Shwokia.