DISARMAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 13 December 1932, Page 5

DISARMAMENT

GERMANY SCEPTIC

OF FIVE POWERS’ DECLARATION

(United Press Association —By Electric

Telegraph—Copyright,.'

LONDON, December 12,

The British United Press Geneva representative says : “The German delegation is sceptical of the value of the Five Power declaration on disarmament. Before he wont to Berpn 'Herr von Neurath indicated that it the methods to be .suggested for a practical realisation of equality of rights proved unsatisfactory, Germany will again withdraw from the Disarmament Conference.”

iJ'he Big Five ‘tentatively agreed to meet at London in the middle of December to discuss the piocedure, but Mr A. Henderson was present in order to show that the discussion was not an attempt to supplant the conference itself.

There is the possibility that Japan and Ru'eia will at 'a later stage be invited to participate in similar discussions.

Mr MacDonald hopes th e present declaration will he interpreted in the United States as a definite proof that .Europe is makiiig isei-ioua efforts to set its' house in order, but the United States delegates'afo understood to be disappointed that the time did not permit a thorough exploration of the possibility of a preliminary disarmament convention, and hope that an attempt to frame a convention will be made early in the New Year.” Messrs MacDonald, Davis and Sir J. Simon are generally credited with what success attended the end of the Disarmament Conference. It is n 0 secret that there was some plain spiking at the final sessions. Th e . negotiations were in hourly danger of breaking down. The" German circles at Geneva attribute the final acceptance of a compromise to the fact that Germany has now a military chancellor, who knows how far to commit his countrymen and .safeguard them against France’s demands of equality.

JAPAN’S NAVAL LIMITATIONS

LARGER SACRIFICE NEEDED

TOKIO, December 11

Japan’s (naval [limitation proposals are based on the principle that in all classes, of naval armaments file maximum tonnage shall be the lowest possible within a specified maximum. It adds : As it is believed to be practically impossible for the World Conference to arrive at a conclusive agreement owing to certain problems concerning only certain powers, America, the British Empire, France, Italy and Japan should firstly conclude a general outline by special and general agreements, the special agreements being between groups of powers most closely related, taking into account the geographical and other circumstances, the world being divided particularly into Pacific, Atlantic, European and South American groups. • In conffsction with this proposal, the plan also suggest* qualitative limitation, in all categories. Qualitative agreements between the five leading powers regarding capital ships, first(clase cruisers and aircraft carriers, should be effected by general agreement.

Supporting, the (suggested change in the capital ratio, Japan declares that the basie idea- of th e Disarmament Conference has been the principle of qualitative limitation, aimed at strengthening the defensive by weakening me offensive Consequently, a larger sacrifice ;s needed jn the larger navies.