GERMAN DEMANDS

Hokitika Guardian, 21 December 1933, Page 5

GERMAN DEMANDS

RETURN OF SAAR

AND UNLIMITED ARMS CONTROL. (United Tress Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright) (Received this day at 10.45 a.m.) PARIS, December 20.

A note from Berlin has arrived, outlining conditions for the non-aggres-son pact recently discussed between Chancellor Hitler and M. Ponc-et. Th© German demands in the note include the immediate return of the Saar territory without a plebiscite, though the French are left in possession of the mines until 1935; an increase of effective strength in the Reiclisweiir to 3C.,000 who will be provided with defensive arms in limited quantities; and lastly, Germany to accept, unlimited control of armaments on equal footing with other states.

GERMANY’S PRESENT , ARMAMENTS

treaty allowance exceeded

(Received this day at 9.10 a.m.) PARIS, December 20.

Writing to -.“La Libertie,” M. Jaques Rainville states that, ...whereas Germany is allowed 103,000 rifles under the Versailles treaty, she had 1,600,010 oh October 1932, and 2,-500,000- on October 1933, which was only 200,000 fewer than wer© destroyed after the war. Though only allowed 1926 ma-chine-guns under the Versailles Treaty, Germany has now 35,C00 apart from 6GCO large guns, compared with 288 prescribed in tile treaty. M.i Bainvill© adds that .G’ernfmy has also quadrupled her raiway lines along the western frontier, has enlarged her railway bridges to allow 1300 trains to pass daily, and is constructing new shunting yards. BRITISH OPINION OF DEMANDS (Received this day at 11.15 a.m.) LONDON, December 20. The “Daily Telegraph’s” diplomatic correspondent states that the British opinion is that Hitler’s proposas are far too eilrnest and important to justify a flat refusal to discuss them on the part -of any power interested in European peace. •