OFFICIAL WIRELESS

Hokitika Guardian, 17 July 1928, Page 2

OFFICIAL WIRELESS

PEACE TREATIES. DISARMAMENT CLAUSES. FOREIGN SECRETARY’S REPORT. [Special to Press Assn, by Radio.] RUGBY, July 11. A statement on the present position regarding the execution of disarmament clauses in peace treaties was made to-day by the Foreign Secretary, Sir Austen Chamberlain. In reply to a Parliamentary question, lie said that the inter-Allied Commissions of Control, which had been set up in Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Bulgaria respectively, had now all been withdrawn because they had accomplished their task to an extent which the ex-Allicd Governments considered, on the whole, satisfactory and adequate. In the case of all these countries except Austria, the final detailed reports which the Commission ot Control drew up on the termination of their mission had been communicated to the League Council who, on the withdrawal of the Commissions, became, under peace treaties, responsible for tbe investigating of any subsequent breach of disarmament clauses.

As regards Austria, the Commission’s final report had not yet been presented to the League Council, because there were certain outstanding points regarding the conversion ol munition factories to industrial uses, which were still subject to negotiations between the ex-Allied Government and the Austrian Government. As regards Hungary, in communicating the- Commission’s final report to the League Council the ex-Allied Governments drew its attention to ceitain reservations expressed by the Commission regarding the application of recruiting laws in Hungary. As regards Bulgaria, in communicating the Commission’s final report to the League Council, the ex-Allied Governments drew its attention to the frequency of non-execution or transgression of now military laws rcgaiding recruiting and army organisation, although the laws themselves, if

loyally observed, were such as to assure a satisfactory application of treaty stipulations. The attention of the Council was also drawn to the fact that the Bulgarian Government had not yet fulfilled its undertaking to revise article 71 of the Constitution, which asserts the principle of universal military service, which is incompatible with the stipulations of the peace treaties. As regards Germany, an agreement was reached at Geneva in December, 192 G, between the ex-Allied Governments and the German Government, wherebv after the withdrawal of the Commission of Control, certain experts were attached to the diplomatic mission of the ex-Allied Governments at Berlin, with a view to reaching an agreement with the German authorities as to the final execution of certain points which, at the date of withdrawal of the Commission of Control, could not yet be regarded as having been completely carried out. Considerable progress had been made m

settlement of these outstanding points, which concern, among other things, reorganisation of the police, and the alteration of military establishments.

london-karachi route

NEW AGREEMENT MADE

RUGBY, July 13

The Air Ministry announces that, in substitution of all standing agreements, a new agreement with Imperial Airways will come into operation on April 1, and will extend for a period of ten years from that date. The agreement will provide for a weekly air service between England and India combined with the present and possibly other, daily services on certain routes in Europe. It is hoped that the Indian service, which is expected to begin in April, will eventually bo oporated twice weekly. The through service to India will terminate at Karachi, but tbe Government of India has under consideration proposals for services operating from Karachi. The maximum subsidies in respect of services to be provided will lie on a decreasing scale. For each of thq first two years the amount will be £335,000. Fo,- each of the next four years £310,000 will he paid, and the amount of the subsidy will decrease thereafter yearly to £70,000. Tbe maximum amount for each rear wilU.be allocated in definite proportion to. first, tbe European services ; second, English and Egyptian, third, the Egyptian-Indian section.