COLD RECEPTION

PRESS IN FRANCE ACCEPTANCE UNLIKELY . " GERMAN SUBTERFUGE " EXCUSE FOR ACTION By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received August 15, 11.20 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 15 The French press has received the suggestions of negotiations over Danzig icily, expressing the opinion that the Italo-German demands are not likely to be acceptable to the democracies. M. Henri de Kerillis, writing in L'Epoque, says: "It is improbable that any German solution would satisfy Poland, which is what Germany wants, in order to say that her generous proposals have been rejected, thereby obtaining an excuse for action. But if a conference eventuates, it is in Germany's interest to put forward the largest number of claims." L'Oeuvrc says: "We will not die for Danzig, nnd neither will the Germans. If we both die, it will be because Hitler, after criticising tho ex-Kaiser, adopted his policy in most unfavourable conditions. If lie plunges into war, it I will mean death to all Europe." Other newspapers exhort the public to keep coo] and declare France is resolved to block aggression. CLOSE ATTENTION LATEST DEVELOPMENTS ATTITUDE OF BRITAIN NO SETTLEMENT BY FORCE British Wireless LONDON, Aug. 14 Developments affecting the European situation continue to engage close attention in official quarters in London, and the Foreign Secretary, Viscount Halifax, will be at the Foreign Office for the next two days. Some interest has been aroused by Dr. Burckhardt's visit to Berchtesgaden, but no information regarding any proposals for a settlement of the Danzig issue has been received in London. The Times, commenting on the weekend consultations at Salzburg and at Berchtesgaden, says: "No object could be more worthy of statesmanship today than a peace settlement fully and freely accepted by all Powers concerned. "If that should be the genuine object of the policy of the two Axis countries, they would no doubt find a general readiness to confer among all the interested States —with the obvious and indispensable provisions that there must be a prima facie case for a modification of present arrangements, and that it is fully understood that changes, if any are to be made, are to take place as the result of negotiation and not of force."

Referring to Danzig in particular, the Times says Herr Forster's recent speeches mark the profound difference which exists between the point of view of Germany and that of every other country, as when lie coolly asserts that the only people who have a right to concern themselves about Danzig arc the people of Danzig. , "The position of Danzig must obviously and unchallengably make the matter one of deep concern to Poland, and other countries have been brought into it precisely because of the arrogant assumption by Germany that any problem in which she is interested must be solved by unquestioned compliance with her own wishes.

"This country, and other countries—among whom may certainly in principle now be included Russia —are determined not to accept the arbitrary pronouncements of German leaders that such and such a European question is one for Germany alone and must be settled exactly as Germany desires. "There can be no peace in Europe as long as any one country assumes that impossible attitude toward the rest. The only certain consequence of assuming it is that it will, in time, band a]l others against it." "RED" NEW ZEALAND GERMAN SUMMING-UP EMPIRE IN WARTIME LONDON, Angr. 8 Discussing tho British Empire's attitude to Britain in tho event of war, Marshal Goering's newspaper, National-' zeitung, says that Australia, in tho event of a purely, European conflict, would make some gesture on behalf of Britain, but, if the war extended to tho Pacific, Australia would attempt to keep herself out of tho line of fire. Canada would hurry to Britain's side and "Bed" Now Zealand would join immediately for ideological reasons. South Africa, it says, would bo the only Dominion fthlo and willing to remain neutral, but Germany must not forget tho Union's hunger for tho mandated territory. Ireland, it ndds, would bo willing to be neutral but would be unable because of her proximity to England. Moreover, England might win over Ireland by fulfilling her last demands.