ALLAY ALARM IN CENTRAL EUROPE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 282, 27 November 1937, Page 9

ALLAY ALARM IN CENTRAL EUROPE.

CAPITALS SEETHING.

Britain's Vain Efforts to

Pacify.

PARLEYS WITH GERMANY. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 1 p.m.) LONDON, November 26. The "Daily Herald" says the British Foreign Office is trying, without success, to allay intense alarm in Central and Eastern Europe and Fiance, resulting from the secrecy surrounding the Hitler-Halifax talks. Every capital last night was seething with rumours, none of which could be offieialy denied, as nobody outside the British Cabinet and several officials know what was said at Berchtesgaden. Ambassadors called on Mr. Eden and Sir Robert Vansittart, Permanent I'nder-Nccretary for Foreign Affairs, hoping for some crumb of comfort, but the only answer they got was, '"There is no need for anxietv."

The French Prime Minister, M. Chautemps, and Foreign Minister, M, Delbos, have arrived in London to take part in

u series of conversations with Mr. Kden Lord Halifax and other British rej>re sentatives.

The diplomatic correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph" says he understands Viscount Halifax will participate in the discussions between Britain and France and will give impressions of his talk with Herr Hitler.

The Spanish war no doubt will be mentioned in the London conversations, but rather from the angle of Mediterranean security than that of the hostilities themselves. Neither London nor Paris believes the time f«.r mediation in Spain has been reached, consequently they do not desire to vary the procedure of the Non-inter-vention Committee. More positive discussions may be directed toward harmonising the joint policy regarding Shanghai. Germany Not Over-Optimistic. The Berlin correspondent of "The Times" states that Viscount Halifax's visit to Germany is still regarded as a promising first contact between Britain and Germany. He is said to have succeeded in giving the impression of sympathy and fairness without committing himself to approval or disapproval of German views.

It is hoped that the friendly atmosphere created will not be dissipated before the time comes to discuss concrete problems on a more official basis, but official German commentators are not unduly optimistic. They emphasise that the main consideration is that the relations between Britain and Germany must be removed from the Versailles Treaty basis to one of complete equality of rights.

Herr Hitler's declared policy is to obtain the restitutions Germany desires peacefully, but any attempt to keep Germany in a collective strait-jacket on the pretext that she cannot be trusted can only, in the German view, provoke an explosion. Advantageous to Britain? The correspondent says it is realised that Britain cannot act regardless of her relations with Franco, hut it is argued that it would be both simple and advantageous for Britain to come to an agreement with Germany, which would be compatible with British interests. If Britain acknowledged Germany's ripht to her former colonies, she would not, it is stated, be harassed for their immediate return. Moreover, if Britain agreed that Germany should enjoy a privileged position in Central and South- Eastern Europe, she could be certain of peace on the Continent and have a free hand to attend to the interests of her Empire, which, as Germany sees it, is menaced at so many points.