GERMANY DOUBTS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 80, 16 January 1936, Page 5

GERMANY DOUBTS

■■■ ~ 1 ♦ SUSPICIONS OF BRITAIN. RELATIONS WITH FRANCE. THE RHINELAND COVETED. DISLIKE OF TREATY: VOICED. (United Press Association—Copyright.) BERLIN, January 15. German commentators continue to proclaim that the scope of the agreement between England and France on co-operation in the Mediterranean has greatly diminished the value of the Locarno Pact, for Germany, alleging that in return for French help in the event of war with Italy, Britain has given definite promises to protect her north - eastern frontier against Germany.

Declaring that this agreement has thrown the Locarno Pact out of gear, the "Berliner Tageblatt" refuses to accept British assurances that arrangements between Fiance and England are only concerned with conflict in the Mediterranean, and that therefore there is no foundation for German fears.

The "Tageblatt" says that should further Anglo-French moves appear to confirm German apprehensions, Herr Hitler might denounce the Locarno Pact, thus enabling Germany to disregard the provisions of the Versailles Treaty for the neutral Rhineland Zone, which the Locarno Pact binds her to observe. . The "Tageblatt" remains convinced that there is a dangerous similarity between the present London and Paris conversations and those that took place between English and French military authorities before the war. "Have the London and Paris negotiators really not discussed the provision of aerodromes for the British Air Force in Northern France and Belgium, that is to say, on the German frontier ?" it asks. "This is only one example of Germany's grounds for doubt."