Evening star., 1925-04-27
ARMS PARLEy BLOW
IS FEARED HERE IN
GERMAN ELECTION
France, Poland and Others
Seen IrrevocabIy Lost to
Disarmament Plea.

The election of Field Marshal Won
HindenburS to the presidency of the
German Republic may have a disas-
trous affect. upon international disarm.
ament plans fostered by President
Coolidge.
The fear was expressed here toda V
that France, Poland and other nations,
but particularly France. would be
averse to entering a conference for
international disarmament in view of
the election in Germany. This was
the view taken by Senator Swanson
of Virginia, ranking Democratic mem.
Der of the Senate foreign relations
committee, and others interested in
the international affairs now in Wash
ington.
Only a very prompt assurance on
the part of Hindenburg and his party
that Germany will comply with the
Dawes agreement and with other
agreements the nation has entered
into with other countries can allay the
suspicion aroused by the election in
Germany, 1t was said.
Senator Borah of Idaho. Republican
however. chairman of the Senate for
eign relations committee, and an earn
est advocate of disa armament, and
Senator Shipstead of Minnesota,
farmer-labor member of the foreign
relations committee, took the view
that the election of Hindenburg can
not be considered necessarily dis
turbing,' or 'militaristic event"
Both laid stress on the fact that Ger
many has been disarmed, and declared
she could not arm if she wanted to.
At the White House today silence
was maintained with regard to the
election of Hindenburg The Presi.
dent has been earnest in his desire TO
help bring about reduction of arma-
ments. France, it has been under
stood all along, has been perhaps the
greatest stumbling block in the way
of a successful conference for dis
armament. 1t is not believed that the
action taken by Germany in elevating
Hindenburg to the presidency will
have the effect of rendering France
more agreeable to the proposals ten
tatively put forward by Washington
for disarmament.
Swanson Apprehensive.
Senator Swanson, discussing the
election in Germany, said today:
II am apprehensive that the cleo
ton of Hindenburg as President of
Germany will have very unfavor-
able effect in all of Europe. 1t will
cause apprehension OF the return to
power of German military spirit and
will increase the power of the mill
tary parties in France, Poland. Czech
oslovakia and other European coun-
tries. / can see no good that will
come from this election, unless Hin.
denburg and those cooperating with
him giNs; assurances that can be
trusted that there Is not to be n re-
turn of the military spirit in Germany
to power.
1T must have a damaging effect
upon any effort for disarmament In
France and other nations, as they will
become apprehensive regarding this
election. The only way that suspicion
can be allayed is by the prompt as.
surance on the part of Hindenburg
and his party that Germany will com
ply with the Dawes plan and with
other international agreements it has
made"
Shipstead Not Alarmed
Senator Shipstead of Minnesota said:
THE defeat of the Ramsay McDon.
aid government in England and the
defeat of Herriot in France have evi-
IDENTIFY to some extent influenced the
election in Germany. In my opinion,
however. the shameful invasion of the
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