HITLER'S CHANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 64, 16 March 1936, Page 7

HITLER'S CHANCE.

BUILDING FOR PEACE.

Could Turn Crisis to Personal Glory. BRITISH PRESS APPEALS. British Official Wireless. (Received 2 p.m.) RUGBY, March 15. The meeting of the Locarno Powers, other' than Germany, was resumed at the Foreign Office late yesterday afternoon. Previously the British delegation had been in consultation with the Prime Minister, Mr. Baldwin, and other members of Cabinet.

A communique issued at the end of the meeting says:—After a further exchange of views the committee of Ministers of the Powers signatory and guarantors of the Locarno Treaty, decided to hold its next meeting as soon as the Council of the League of Nations reached its decision .upon the communication submitted to it by the French and Belgian Governments.

Comment on the international situation in Saturday's newspapers was affected by the uncertainty of the German reply to the invitation to attend the League Council.

Outstanding features of the Press comment on the international situation are eloquent appeals in leading articles in "The Times" and "Daily Telegraph" to Herr Hitler to rise to the greatness of his opportunity by making a contribution to appeasement.

The "Daily Telegraph." says the procedure of appeal to the League Council which France has adopted presents HenHitler with the greatest opportunity a man could have for a glorious place in history. He can approach the League as he could approach no individual Power. He can concede to public opinion of Europe everything that national pride might forbid him to offer to a single nation.

The "Telegraph" says: "One simple gesture would transform Herr Hitler's ligure in the eyes of his own generation from a menace to the leader of Europe in its progress towards a higher civilisation. One step more is required—a withdrawal that could infringe in not the slightest degree the assertion of German sovereignty, but would preserve the sanctity of treaties and calm all western Europe. To do that would open an era of hope which a perplexed world has not seen since 1914." Hitler Proposals Welcomed. "The Times" says the proposals which the German leader made have been widely welcomed in Britain as offering a Chance to rebuild the peace of the world on wider and surer foundations, but they have been accompanied by action which ringed them with a barrier of doubt. Those who are most disposed to seize the opportunity offered of reestablishing European equality have the most reason to invite a small contribution, temporary by its very nature, which is now necessary to remove the obstacle that he has himself created and thus enable negotiations to begin.

There is no implication of any surrender of or restriction upon German sovereignty, for negotiations would take place upon a basis of complete recognition of Germany's sovereignty and equality of rights.

"The Times" points out that Germany's threatened choice of honourable isolation is no more than condemning herself to self-encirclement, although it is of encirclement that her spokesmen so often complain.

Both. "Scrutator" 111 the "Sunday Times" and Mr. J. L. Garvin in the "Sunday Observer" examine the crisis in its implications, and each in a different manner stresses that it is the supreme task before statesmen to avoid dangers and seize the opportunities of the situation. The "Sunday Times," in a leading article, joins in the appeal to the German Chancellor to make a gesture, on the grounds that the issues boil down very largely to a question of confidence. "Let is be repeated that it is not the German claim or German offer, but the German method, which has made Europe's present crisis so perilous," the paper states. NO WARTIME COLOURS. BAN ON EX-SERVICEMEN. (Received 1 p.m.) ■COLOGNE, March 15. In order to avoid provocation of foreign Powers, Herr Hitler forbade the carrying of wartime colours in an exservicemen's parade on the occasion of the dedication of new flags designed by him, 620 of which were carried. TURKEY DECIDES. JOINS HAGUE COURT. (Received 10.30 a.m.) GENEVA, March 15. Turkey has signified her decision to join the Hague Court of International Justice.