Evening star., 1934-04-19
WAR FEAR SPURS
| NEW ARMS MOVE
England Presses for Action
J After French Note At
, tacking Germany.
nv the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
fLONDON, April 19.-Fighting to
stave off a feared race among the
Nations to rearm, British leaders be-
gan today a renewed struggle for some
basis of agreement.
They were spurred by the French
contention, stated in a note to Lon
don, that Germany's increased de-
fenSe appropriations have smashed all
hope of disarmament through bilateral
negotiations.
Authoritative sources said Britain
is determined to continue efforts to
obtain at least limited arms conven-
ton.
Amid these moves today the London
press, in a peSsimistic vein. topped
accounts of the French note with such
headlines as:
Grave disarmament crisis" Direct
arms talks killed" Disarmament dead
lock" and France blameS Germany"
The Morning Post said the French
memorandum is a watt of refreshing
candour, looSed into the sultry, suf-
locating atmosphere of make-believe, :"
and ends once and for all the hollow
pretenSe that disarmament is either
safe or possible under existing condi-
tions.
The definite French position was
revealed in British government
white paper" which told in 1000
words the story of how European
nations have sought to reach basis
for an arms accord.
The paper was released after Lon
don had received in the note from
Paris a demand that a full disarm-
ament conference resume discussions
where they were dropped last Fall.
Delegates to the conference left
Geneva. after the withdrawal of Ger
many from both the parley and the
League of Nations, hoping to find
agreement through diplomatic eX-
changes.
New Course Sought.
But leaders were forced today to
east about for some new solution,
with the French conclusion that Ger
many'S moves have rendered vain"
all separate Franco-British negotia-
tions.
provision for increased appropriations
for army, navy and air forces.
:. The bulky British memorandum last
night included a German statement
of position not previously revealed.
1t said, in part:
.. The German government
wishes to possess defensive air force
and short-range machines, not includ-
ing bombing planes, from the begin
ming of a convention, in numerical
strength which would not exceed 80
per cent of the combined air forces
of Germany's neighbors or so per cent
of the military aircraft possessed by
France, whichever figure is less"
French View Opposed.
The British, seeking not only to
reach some bilateral agreement with
France. but also to get the French
and Germans together, never have
agreed with Frances contention that
Germany is violating arms provisions
of the Versailles treaty, nor is Lon
don ready to agree that increases in
the German military budget are proof
that the Reich Is rearming illegally.
Germany has expressed willing
ness to agree to supervision of arms,
provided any regulations. drawn are
made to apply equally to all nations
The Times, commenting on Frances
charges against Germany, held there
is no proof that Germany is going
beyond a reasonable measure in ma
tional defense.
The Telegraph suggested that the
French note voiced rejection of all
schemes for limitation of armaments
advocated by Great Britain and Italy.
:. The Post following up its remarks
about Frances refreshing candour,"
advised the disarmament conference
at Geneva to wind itself up as quickly
as possible.