DISARMAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 October 1921, Page 5

DISARMAMENT.

ATTITUDE OF FRANCE. MUST BE PREPARED. NO DESIRE FOR WAR. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Cepyrlgtt. Geneva, Oct. 2. M. Noblemaire (France), continuing the disarmament debate at the meeting of the League of Nations, said France would give the fullest support to the practical realisation of disarmament, but demanded that there should be power to make investigations in all countries. He asked why should not a free and peaceful France live alongside a free and peaceful Germany. France did not want more wars, but had no room for extreme pacifists, who were deaf and blind to harsh realities. France was anxiously watching the tragedy enacted in Germany between the spirit of work, peace and democracy, and the Spirit of war of the Junkers. France was bound to keep her army in readiness. It was not her fault; circumstances compelled her to be ready to act as the world’s police. Mr. H. A. L. Fisher (England) said he was glad to learn that pacific sentiments prevailed on both sides of the frontier. European peace was possible on the day France and Germany forgot a littl? of their antagonism. If England and Franca were not always in agreement diplomatically they were ever willing to lay the first stone of universal peace. Mr. Bruce (Australia) stated that the waste of « year in regard to the disarmament question was very serious. He had great hopes of the Washington Conference. It was necessary to do a great deal of preparatory work and to collect information, without which a reduction was hopeless. If armaments were not reduced civilisation would become chaotic in & few years owing to the collapse of the world’s finances. Lord Robert Cecil’s report was adopt■» ed. THE BUDGET STATEMENT. Geneva. Oct. 2. The League of Nations 1921 Budget estimates the expenditure at twentythree million gold francs. Britain’s share is about three millions.