ARMAMENTS NOTE

Hokitika Guardian, 8 September 1932, Page 5

ARMAMENTS NOTE

GERMANY’S DESIRE

OTHER NATIONS SHOULD REDUCE

(United -Press Association—By Electric

Telegraph—Copyrigh t.)

‘ BERLIN, v September 6,

The text -has been issued of the armaments note* It declares that Germany isvpjrepered to accfept any pro- ! hibition .qfvweapQns applying to ail countries,. and/depiands • the reduction ; of the existing term Of twelve years’ military service and- the establishment of a militia,(force, under short-term training for the ipaiptenance of internal order anj|; the .'defence of coasts and frontiers.;?; * i fieri' Neurath, in an accompanying statement, says ; .Our equality, not our tie the point we have submitted 1 fottDiscussion; It is a distortion of the trutli.to refer t ;to Germany’s armament tendencies and threat of Military -power.-jGennany .waited ten years for the fulfilment of her claim, and cannot, linger remain under a discrimination irreconcilable with honour and security, must reach new de-; visions) in the eyeht of Frahce not desiring direct' pourparlers, ; - ■ ( 7. The German ]3b.yeriiment!s- “aide memolre!? cwstaining ifs-: demand for arms wmalityy includes .the following ' demand :.,iThat . the . armaments of other countries- shall be reduced .to a point which, witfi .dw regard, „to the special condition-lof each country, .will corre- ; spend with - v the. state of armament forced upon Germany by the Versailles , Treaty. ; ,- . Germany says, that, refused to, be treated a second-class state, but that she jvould be satisfied, in the beginning, -with,, a certain modification ,of Tier armaments,' .believing that a second disarmament, convention will bring a .(reduction of, armaments for the highly-aiuped, nations. Germany states she is ready to discuss plaijs for the sepuidty of all other states, -

..... The ‘ faide. memoire’ is accompanied- by Von statement, which concludes: “Germany is not jn a position to , participate in, any. future disarmament conference unless this question Of arms equality has previously and fundamentally .been settled.’’

- The ‘‘Manchester, ; guardian’s’’ Paris correspondent says: The'French Government will not answer (Germany until it has consulted; eign. governments. It is understood that conversations,.either are progressing, or are about to begin with London. , , r