ANOTHER BREACH

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 126, 10 March 1936, Page 5

ANOTHER BREACH

RENATIONALISING OF RIVERS. GERMANY INFORMS GOVERNMENTS. RHINE, DANUBE AND OTHERS. United Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.5 p.m.) BERLIN, March 9. It is reliably learned that Cer- • many intends to break another section of the Versailles Treaty and renationaiise the Rhine and Danube, Oder, Elbe and Moselle rivers. Germany has already informed the interested Governments that with the reassumption of the full sovereignty df German territory she will no longer be liable to the jurisdiction of the River Commissions. APPREHENSION IN AUSTRIA. PRELUDE TO INVASION SEEN. (Received This Day, 10.30 a.m.) VIENNA, March 9. Apprehension is growing that the occupation of the Rhineland is the prelude to the invasion of Austria, especially as Italy is preoccupied with Abyssinia. OMISSION OF ASSURANCE. VIENNA, March 8. The press is nervous. The “Tageblatt” says: “We miss something vital from Herr Hitler’s declaration, namely an offer to respect Austria’s integrity.” The “Reichspost” regards the offer to rejoin the League as aimed at placating England. It expresses the opinion that this action will he considered most important because of the ItaloAlbyssinian dispute. A PROTEST BY BELGIUM. (Received This Day, 2.5 p.m.) BRUSSELS, March 8. Probably on lines similar to the French Note, Belgium will direct the attention of the League of Nations Council to Germany’s violation of the Locarno Pact.

BRITISH “COLD-BLOODEDNESS.” COMMENT IN GERMAN PRESS. LONDON, March 9. A Berlin telegram states that messages from German correspondents in London emphasise the “cold-blooded-ness” with which Herr Hitler’s declaration was received in England. It is true that the statement was received calmly- by the English* Press, and .the Government is most reserved. If it is possible to summarise the feeling, it may be said that the statement presents an opportunity of averting the threatened world nar, but this is dependent on the French attitude. A SERIOUS SITUATION. COMMENT IN LONDON PRESS LOCARNO’S WEAKEST POINT. LONDON, March 8. “The Sunlay Express” says: “According to the written policy of the ’Government, Britain is bound to take action if the League tells her to do so. The British public may vote for the League, but will not inarch to war at its direction on such a trivial pretext.”

“The Sunday Dispatch” says: “Germany has brought to a clear single issue the tangled sophistries of diplomats. Given wise handling by the nations Herr Hitler’s intention may ho justified by results.” In a leading article, the Daily Mail” deprecates the regarding of the Rhineland occupation as a crisis, recalling that Marshal Foch regarded it as eventually inevitable. The “Daily Mail urges the rejection of sanctions against Germany and adds: “Her stroke has cleared the air and has not seriously affected France’s safety.”

The- “News-Chronicle” in a leading article, says: “Herr Hitler’s invitation must be taken up without delay. European civilisation is unsafe while Germany suffers from a sense of grievance. A refusal means war, while a peace based on a contented, Germany is better for France than a frontier manfted in terror of invasion.” _ “The Times” says: “Herr Hitler's invasion of the Rhineland at Locarno’s weakest joint. The demilitarisation of the Rhineland was not destined to be permanent. There is a distinction between the present occupation and carrying fire and sword into a neighbour’s territory.” The political correspondent of ‘The Times” says that Mr Eden tokl the German Ambassador (Dr. von Iloeseh) that Britain was bound to take a very serious view of German violation or solemn pledges. Sending troops into the Rhineland must ho condemned. Geymany had every right to state her objections to the Franco-Soviet Pact, but her action could have been along the lines of the Locarno treaty.

Moreover, although a realisation of Germany’s constructive aims is desirable, it is felt that the short-cut of easy complacency toward Herr Hitler’s violation of pledges might he the longest and perhaps the most disastrous'road.