Evening star., 1933-10-15
FRANCE TRANQUIL
At GERMAN STEP
Nation Feels Safe in Might
and Right, Though sur
prised.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
PARIS. October l4-France feels
safe. in might and right. in the face
of German Withdrawals from the Dis
armament Conference and the League
of Nations.
This was revealed tonight in a for
eign Office statement that I'VE were
much surprised but not upset" and in
recent expressions of satisfaction over
defense chain along the German
frontier.
The treaty of Versailles was re-
called as still being in eXisteE e, with
mand that the League investigate any
charges of German rearmament.
officials added the reminder that the
German-American treaty contains the
same arms limitation clauses as the
post Versailles accord.
Action Extremely Grave"
Authorities concluded from these
points that the Gerp an action was one
of extreme gravity" and added that
I'VE will not lose our head"
One spokesman said news Of the
withdrawal was the "gravest in 20
years."
The government and French news
papers emphasized that Premier Dala-
dier went as far as he could in Offer
ing concessions to Germany's arms de-
mands, and there were some express
sions Of relief that Germany at last
has shown her hand"
Confidence in Frances military
strength has repeatedly been expressed
L., H4l4 ~,
leaders, but all had agreed that the
present French force would not have
been weakened until a plan for arma-
ment supervision had been confirmed
by German good will.
NJ Daladier gave his pledge to Parlia-
ment that the army would be kept
strong. AS a gesture. he recently in
spected a great iron ring of forts paral-
leling the Rhine.
THE government Is following with
extreme vigilance the evolution of inter-
national politics" said the premier re-
Gently. apparently in reference to the
accession to power of the Hitlerites and
their demand for German equality
of rights" entailing revision of World
War treaties.
Compulsory Service Cut.
Since the war France has reduced
compulsory military service to one year.
and the military budget. because Of
economic conditions. was cut consider
ably below 1882 expenditures.
The new Notifications, however, were
designed to offset the shorter army serv-
ice. and Premier Daladier who also is
minister of war, assured the nation that
the budgetary saving will be in the
cost of materials and increased efici-
ency through organization. without sac
rificing manpower.
This consists of any army of 1862 1877
electives in France. besides auxiliary
forces and Colonial army which
bring the total to 651.185 men.
Germany. In the official --2nch view.
has in addition to her army of 100000
men. auxiliary forces, such as the mil
itarized police. and Chancellor Hitlers
storm troops, with an estimated total
Of 100000
Italy. on the other hand. Is credited
by the French with an army of 464,481
men and Fascist militia and Colonial
forces aggregating 840.618.
As figured by the French. France has
2.212 airplanes. compared to 1907 in
Italy and l,434 in Grea. Britain. The
treaty of Versailles bars Germany from
having military airplanes.
Workers in the Metz and Laulter re-
gion have been forging defense chain
on a l25-mile front for the past three
years. This includes trench and case
ment system. based on Frances World
War experiences.
France has done what she could to
achieve disarmament" foreign Office
spokesman said today. Her views are
shared by the United States and Great
Britain. and now it is perfectly clear
where Germany stands"
The French cabinet conducted an in
formal meeting today on the arms sit
uation. The ministers refrained from
commenting publicly, but privately they
construed the German decision as justi-
fication OF what they called the firm
French stand.