GERMAN DEMAND

Hokitika Guardian, 29 December 1933, Page 5

GERMAN DEMAND

FOBf ARMAMENTS

FRANCE UNABLE TO ACCEPT.

United Press Association—By Eiectm Telegraph— Copyright.)

LONDON, December 28

The “Daily Mail’s” Paris -correspondent says: The discussion of Germany's demand for armaments occupied most of a Cabinet meeting lasting for four and a half hours. The majority of the" Ministers were gravlaly perturbed, but it was decided that the negotiations must be strictly limited to the E-mb.'s-sies.

M. Chautcmps. the Premier, subse- • quently stated: “France is prepared as always, to make positive proposals of disarmament which will prove her desire for peace.” It is understood that the Foreign 'Minister, M. Boncour, in a dispatch to M. Poncet, emphasises, firstly, that Germ-ny i s asking for armaments, which demand is out of place at |a disarmament,,- 1 conference. Secondly, Germany has already taken steps to make many of her proposals actual facts. Thirdly, Frahce re* fuses to enter upon any negotiations which ate not to be shared by the, other powers concerned. I M. Hymans (Belgium) .has confer* ! red with M. Boncour, . They agreed 1 on the necessity of, Franco-Belgian unity on both disarmament and foreign policy.

PROGRESSIVE REDUCTION URGED

■MR HENDERSON’S SOLUTION

LONDON, December 28

Rt. Hon. A. Henderson, President ;of the Disarmament Conference, m nn article in “The Nineteenth C en ' tury,” discusses the possibility of a world agreement which would strengthen (national security and improve political relationships. He says that Britain should not reject any constructive proposals for the Strengthening of the League of ' Nations. She should welcome any suggestions to secure, the permanent co-operation of the United States and the Soviet with the League. The primary need, he says, is a bold p°licy to make the existing treaty obligations a reality. The policy of scrapping a collective peace systonr is ,an impossible one.. That system must be made to work.

,f lf .we refuse 'risks jand sacrifices in the interests of peace,’’ says Mr •Henderson, “we should not he practising “safety first,” but shou’d b P moving towards Nrmageddon." The basic risk that we must take is in regard to armaments. If a new race in armaments began, it would overshadow tho possibility of a breakdown in the collective ponce system. . Bigger armaments will not give peace. Therefore it js only commonsense, even at the present late hour, to seek a progressive reduction of armaments.”

GERMAN IDEAL OF HONOUR

LONDON, December 28

“The Times’ ” Berlin correspondent s a ys; Chancellor Hitler’s deputy, Herr Hess,, has broadcast . a message to all Germans abroad, in which he urged them once again to walk with he-ds erect, full of true pride, among other nations, ‘because,” lie Sjid, “your own nation once again knows the ideal of honour.”

He rclded that Chancellor Hiller’s most urgent aim was to secure for Germany • and for Europe, a real peace, since a new war would only bring- back Bolshevist chaos, and would end all culture, perhaps, even, all cuture outside of Europe.

NAZI SUPPORTER RESIGNS

BERLIN, December 27

General von Hammer.stein, Chief of the 'Reichswehr, has resigned. He is unable to work' in harmony, with the 'Nazi rulers, though he is supporting the regime.