THE PEACE PROPOSALS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 32, 17 November 1939, Page 5

THE PEACE PROPOSALS

HERR HITLER’S REPLY. PERSONAL NOTE EXPECTED. ♦ (Received This Day, 9.5 a.m.) PARIS, November 16. Official circles in Brussels believe that Herr Hitler will send a personal communication to King Leopold and Queen Wilhelraina in reply p.a their offer of mediation. NO FORMAL GERMAN REPLY. NOT PREPARED TO CAPITULATE. - ’ • i ... ! LONDON, November 16. The Netherlands Government announced that Herr von Ribbentrop, (the German Foreign Minister) on behalf of Herr Hitler, informed the Belgian and Dutch envoys that no formal reply would be made to the mediation proposals. The Government, added that Belgium and Holland were considering the possibility of further moves. It was stated in Berlin that, while Germany was unable to accept the conditions (of the British-French replies to the mediation jproposals, discussions could he opened later. Certain conditions, befpre contact between the . belligerents, however, were essential. Germany at present could not undertake a positive step to realise the sovereigns’ peace plans because that would give tho impression that she was prepared to capitulate. Nobody expected Tho Hague mediation offer to produce immediate results, but there is every indication that it will be renewed directly the opportunity recurs*. . The,, Amsterdam paper “De Telograaf,” in an outspoken leading article, blames the invasion scare to. Government offices, which took ill-consid-ered measures calculated to cause the calmest to become apprehensive. M. Gillon, who has been re-elected President of the Belgian Senate, told Parliament that Belgium was following a policy of strict neutrality and absolute honesty. . ; .

SUGGESTION IN DUTCH PRESS. TO KEEP THE DOOR OPEN. (Received This Day, 9.5 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, November 17. The Dutch press suggests that if Briain and Franco explained that their eplies were not intended as brusque negatives there would be no grounds for refusal by Germany to continue negotiations.