Germany Impatient

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 458, 13 September 1928, Page 9

Germany Impatient

disarmament progress £ ranee and Britain Cautious (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Received 1.30 p.m. GENEVA, Wednesday. Tullii introduction of the disarmament subject, with an everrecurring mention of security from Eurqpeans, is the League’s liveliest subject of discussion. Germany is impatient to see the Versailles provisions applied to her vanquishers. France is dubious whether sufficient security is assured, and finds herself beside Britain in opposing haste in convening the Preparatory Commission.

Lord Cushendun this afternoon eloquently repeated proofs of Britain’s sincerity. He deprecated haste because every day war was becoming more unthinkable among civilised people. Speaking before the Disarmament Committee of the League of Nations this afternoon, Lord Cushendun, the British representative, referred to the Anglo-French naval compromise, says a British Official Wireless message. He declared that he could not really understand why it had created such a stir in the world, as it was a decided step forward. “We have been accused,” continued Lord Cushendun, “of having signed a secret treaty, of having sinister motives. How can that be? All that was done was to help the Preparatory Committee. We are now ready to submit to our colleagues the draft, which may help them in their work.” An Australian and New Zealand Press Association - United Service cable message says that Count Bernstortf (Germany) reiterated Chancellor Mueller’s request for the earliest summoning of a full Disarmament Conference.

Admiral Saito gave figures showing Japan’s post-war armament reductions. On her own initiative she reduced her army by one-third. Japan, he said, sincerely desired an equitable reduction of armament. That could not be attained with a magic wand, but must be done gradually and progressively. He supported the Norwegian delegate’s suggestion that the Standing Committee should study the armaments of all countries. M. Paul Boncour (France) urged the fixing of a definite date for the Preparatory Commission, at the earliest. REPLY TO M. BRIAND

Dr. Mueller made a statement to journalists on Wednesday. Germany’s disarmament, he claimed, was a remarkable achieve-

ment, although there were still some small things to be done. It was true that Germany could utilise her industrial resources for war purposes, but she could not fight without arms. FAILED TO UNDERSTAND

Replying to M. Briand’s specific criticisms, Dr. Mueller said Germany liad reconstructed her mercantile marine and improved her economic position to enable her to meet the reparation payments. Therefore he failed to understand M. Briand. Since the war Germany had reduced her 40,000 officers to 4,000. Other countries were adopting the German “cadre” system. Germany would submit a fuller statement on the matter at the Assembly’s discussion of the disarmament report. Lord Cushendun and M. Briand in the lunch-hour cordially compared their impressions of yesterday’s “Big Six" conference, at which an excellent spirit was shown. The Australian Press Association learns that Germany has not submitted a Rhineland scheme, but most useful suggestions came from others, for consideration to-morrow. BRITISH PROTEST SPEECH BY CUSHENDUN (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Reed. 10 a.m. LONDON, Wednesday. The National Council of the Independent Labour Party has issued a statement urging every section of the movement to protest against Lord Cushendun’s endorsement of M. Briand’s Geneva speech, also advocating that M. Briand should set an example %in disarmament by proposing total and universal disarmament.