HELP TO PEACE:

Taranaki Daily News, 5 January 1921, Page 5

HELP TO PEACE:

CRIPPLING MILITARISM. t; X DISARMAMENT IN. GERMANY. ALLIES AGREE TO ACT. j - By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Jan. 4, 8.30 p.m. London, Jan. 4. The text of the French Note to Germany is published officially. It details Germany’s shortcomings, but does not indicate retaliatory measures. The Note states the Allied Governments will deliberate on the breaches of the Peace Treaty. The Daily News states the French and British general staffs are absolutely agreed regarding the facts, but differ whether the civic guards in East Prussia and Bavaria should be demobilised forthwith or later. The British view is that the guards are necessary to combat the Bolshevik, and should not be demobilised over rapidly.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. The question of Germany’s disarmament was dealt with at the session of the Spa Conference on July 9. The Allies called on Germany to agree to fulfil the following terms within six months:— 1. That the Germans dissolve the Sicherheitspolizei (Public Safety Police) and Einwohnerwehr (Civic Guards). 2. That concealed arms be given up, with severe penalties in case of further concealment. 3. That a law be passed converting the Reichswehr (Defence Force) into a small regular army, as provided by the treaty. 4. That all other military and aviation elauses be faithfully executed. On these conditions, the Allies agreed to extend, until January 1, the time for the reduction of effectives, but demanded that the army should not exceed 150,000 men on October 1. The Allies further agreed to allow Germany to keep forces in the neutral zone, and to do their utmost to prevent arms from being smuggled in from the occupied area. If at any time the Allied Commission of Control finds that Germany is evading the fulfilment of the bargain, the Allies will proceed to further occupation of German territory, whether in the Ruhr or elsewhere, and will continue to occupy it until the terms are wholly complied with.

To these terms, which represented a considerable concession, both in respect to condonation of the German failure to disarm to date, and in respect to the German request for further delay, the Germans replied at the session of July 9 by signifying their consent and signing the protocol presented.