FRANCE’S PLAN

Hokitika Guardian, 16 November 1932, Page 5

FRANCE’S PLAN

FOR DISARMAMENT

"ONLY METHOD OF SOLUTION."

(United Press Association—By Electric

Telegraph—Copyright.)

PARIS, November 14

The text of the French disarmament plan, amounting to four thousand words, claims that it is the only method of solving the problem. ,The : German demand lor equality, it says, would be only realisable if, in View of Mr Stimsoip's declaration that the signatories of the Kellogg Pact cannot remain neutral, they agree to sunder economic and financial relations with an aggressor, while members of the League strictly apply the League Covenant. The, plan promises limitation of its application to Europe, with a Commission to define, an 'aggressor, after which the mutual assistance clauses will become operative.

It adds that it is necessary for European Powers to adhere to a general arbitration pact, and also proposes that the European armies should be progressively reduced to ,a uniform, short-service, defensive type, not possessing powerful amament, and with limited effectives varying in accordance with man-power and military training, in political formations and police.

The plan proposes the creation of a powerfully armed League army, to deal with an aggressor, each nation maintaining a special force, but Britain would not be expected to send a contingent of ships, which would be tlie duty of .plan-signatories possessing navies.

It also proposes that the League should control the manufacture of war materbl wiui international inspection thereof.

The plan dealing with navies oversens proposes a Mediterranean mutual assistance pact. Another article proposes the prohibition of aerial bombardment, abolition of bombers, provided civil planes are not used for military purposes, and an international air force at the disposal of the League, and a European union of air transport.

OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSAL

BY ENGLANF AND GERMANY

LONDON, November 15

The detailed French disarmament proposals have had a mixed reception. Ifc is pointed out that they consist almost entirely on a plan for security rather tlran for disarmament; Professor Gilbert Murray saVs: — “Oiie would, like to know how rapidly France will disarm when she getß security." , German experts at Geneva similarly point out that disarmament is only in the background, saying there are so many conditions to French disarmament tlr,t it would be nearly impossible of attainment.

The “Morning Post” says: “It is doubtful whether Britain is willing to join in a Mediterranean .pact, which is scarcely practicable without her adherence.”

“The Times” says: The complicated issue as to how military and civil aviation can effectively be controlled is the point in the French scheme most likely to retard international agreement. It must frankly Tie admitted that most European countries are not prepared for the immediate destruction of their heavy guns and tanks. Hence the proposal to create dumps. The method proposed for the 'ascertainment of an act of aggression will also fail to win acceptance.”

The newspaper “Koelnische Zeituncr,” simultaneously with the publication of the French Disarmament Plan, has issued a twenty-four page illustrated description of France’s armaments, as the most powerful in the world, 'and as standing between France’s oft quoted love of peace and a true realisation of world peace. Rear Admiral Gadow.e says that the new giant French bombers are capable of devastating the principal towns in England.

BRITAIN’S DISARMAMENT PLAN

MILITARY AIRCRAFT AB6LITION.

(Received 8.40 a.m.) LONDON, November 15

Britain’s plan, which is 'being disclosed at Geneva to-day, includes the abolition of military aircraft by the principle which admits that complete abolition is not immediately practical)’©. Hen e the proposed stages, the first of which is itmnediate drastic reduction in military ‘pianos. Mr Hector Bvwator, in the “Daily Telegraph,” urges the scrapping'of'the' I ' Arabia class of sloops built in the war time, of which are the Veranica and Laburnum in New Zealand. Retention involves the risk of valuable lives, as the sinking of the Valerian in 1926, with the loss of So iives, proved. But for tlie dearth of modern cruisers, the sloop class would un doubtedly long since have been scrapped.