Evening star., 1933-10-07
ARMS PARLEY RIFT
THREAT |NTENS|F|ES
Diplomatic Crisis Seen Lurk.
ing in Differences Between
Paris and Berlin.
BY PAUL SCOTT MOWRER.

holding up the negotiations. The prob
lem has thus become: How to deal
with Germany.
Some say conciliate once for all by
giving it everything 1t wants. Some
say let others get together and make
Germany an offer and then, II Ger
many finally refuses, let Germany take
the consequences. Most waver between
these two extremes, tending now one
way and now another
The German thesis is that, unless
there is a new disarmament treaty
freely consented to by all. then Ger
many j; released from the military
obligations of the treaty of Versailles
and is free to do as 1t likes. Urder
this thesis, Germany is common.y be-
now, although opinions differ as to the
degree this re-armament has already
reached.
Sanctions Threat Seen.
The French thesis is that. II there Is
no new agreement. then the treaty OF
Versailles still holds. What the other
powers dread Is that, II there Is
definite breakdown of the conference,
France will invoke the treaty OF Ver-
sailles to demand proof that Germany
is Loyalty observing it and Will claim
the treaty right to apply sanctions IN
case such proof is not Forthcoming.
This undoubtedly would provoke
fore want to find a way to keep the
conference alive at any cost except
France and its allies, who are now
pressing for a speedy conclusion.
The Germans undoubtedly believe
that time is working for them both
because they are already engaged IN
reoreanizing their national defense and
will be stronger when this reorganiza-
ton is finished, and because experience
has shown them that, by alternating
resistance and delays, they will always
obtain additional concessions.
Won Principle Fight.
When the conference convened, It
was widely assumed that the German
point of view would be unlmportant;
because Germany. IN any case, woulo
be better off even under the Treaty OF
Versailles and hence would gladly &C
cept any arrangements agreed by the
others. But Germany demanded COM
plete arms equality and in July. 1882,
bolted the conference, refusing to re-
turn until the principle of equal rights
was granted six month later. The con-
cessions thus made to Germany are as
follows:
l. A new treaty will entirely super
cede the Treaty of Versailles from
whose disarmament clause Germany
thenceforth will be free.
2. Germany will enjoy the right OF
equal arms with all other powers
theoretically from the beginning and
actually after the few years necessary
for arms readjustment.
3. Germany shall be allowed an army
equal in all respects to that Of France
on the European continent. after
trial period of four years. What Ger
many is holding out for now is IN
mediate equality with France or some
thing as near it as possible.
throughout this Summer negotiations
were in abeyance. Arthur Henderson,
chairman of the Disarmament CONFER
ence. tried to speed them up and made
a trip to various capitals, but met with
cool reception. 1t was agreed. now
ever that serious talks would be re-
! sumed in September among Great
Britain, the United States, France,
Germany and Italy, and an enort
| would be made to conclude a treaty
before Christmas.
Great Britain. the United States,
France and Italy, after brief prelim-
| mary talks, came to Geneva and met
| German Foreign Minister Baron Con-
| stantin Won Neurath and DR.. Paul
Joseph Goebbels, German minister OF
propaganda The Germans listened to
what the others had to say, but re-
fused to commit themselves.
U. S. Blocked Alternative.
Italy tried to mediate and failed.
Germany and Italy then suggested that
the conference be adjourned, but that
four-power talk be held in Stresa,
| Italy, under Premier Benito MuSsol1nl' S
| four power pact. with the United States
present as observer. The United States
refused to accept this role. France also
! disliked this idea and other powers
| like Poland and Russia insisted the pro-
| ceedings must continue in Geneva as
originally planned.
| The British then stepped in and told
| the Germans what the others would
agree to during four years trial period
| and asked for rapid German reply
Won Neurath and DR.. Goebbels left for
Berlin, after promising an answer. 1t
| is reported that opinions are being ex-
changed among Berlin. London. Rome
and Paris through the regular diplo-
| matte channels.
In this situation, with everybody
| waiting, a new italian move occurred
| for the four-power talk at Stresa. The
! answer was the issuing OF invitations by
| Henderson for a meeting OF the Dis
armament Steering Committee in
! Geneva next Monday.
Further Delay Is Seen.
The Germans promptly allowed it to
L. ,~xa,,,,, toof Won Norrath and DIR
! Goebbels would not come back. Rudolf
Nadolny will represent Germany on
! Monday. Everything will then presum-
| ably slow up again until october 16,
when the general commission Is sched-
uled to meet. The German answer to
! the other powers, it Is now intimated,
will be withheld until this meeting.
Thus days and weeks 60 by. II Ger
many wants peace and disarmament II
..an seemingly get them now with 1ull
equality in four years. But such peace
implies status quo for the European
frontier. The German maneuvers are
such today that some delegations, even
though heretofore sympathetic with tne
German viewpoints, are wondering II
Germany really wants treaty.
| Except for one circumstance, there
undoubtedly would be a movement to
try to force the German hand. This
Circumstance is of long standing-the
British and italian desire to balance
France against Germany. by weakening
France and strengthening Germany, Sc
that both in opposing one another will!
hereafter be dependent on British and
Italian support.
| The recent sensational Franco-Rus-
sian friendship has intensified the
Anglo Italian fears as to possible
French dominance on the continent
For this reason, much as they distrust
the present German policies: neither
/ Great Britain nor Italy seencs ready
as yet to take a definite stand against
Germany's demands.