OFFER TO MEDIATE PEACE SETTLEMENT

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 205, 31 August 1939, Page 11

OFFER TO MEDIATE PEACE SETTLEMENT

ROYAL GESTURE Belgian And Dutch Rulers Would Call Conference FAVOURABLE RECEPTION (British Official Wireless.—Kec. 12 noon.) RUGBY, August 30. The joint offer of their good offices in favour of a negotiated settlement in the present dispute made by Queen Wilhelmina and King Leopold has been welcomed in London in a similar spirit to the reception given to earlier appeals for peace, emanating from the Oslo Powers, the Vatican and the White House. Mr. Chamberlain, in his statement yesterday, said, in reference to Herr Hitler's latest communication which was then awaited, "On the nature of that reply depends whether further time can be given for the exploration of the situation and for the operation of the many forces which are working for peace." The initiative taken at The Hague and Brussels is clearly an important reinforcement of those forces. The Pope has sent messages to Queen Wilhelmina and to Pvmg Leopold giving "moral support and the deepest appreciation of the Vatican for their efforts to mediate between Germany and Poland, states a Press Association cable. Poland, Britain and France have accepted the offer to mediate, extended by King Leopold and Queen Wilhelmina, but little hope is placed in the action of Their Majesties. Although there is no wish immediately to place too much hope in signs that tension is easing, evidence is accruing of a widespread search for a way out of the impasse. An inspired German statement issued to journalists in Berlin said that political circles received the mediation offer from Belgium and Holland with the greatest sympathy," and added ohk rm R n i are being exerted in the same direction as those of the Belgian and Dutch sovereigns, which are much appreciated. r . j taken the initiative. The issue now depends on decisions in London and V/arsaw." that U 'Ji te<l PreSS corres P on dent in Berlin comments that while professedly anxious not to destroy the possibility of negotiations with Poland within the framework of the German demands official circles declare that whereas Britain or Belgium ?n th? C °" m T lte P ? lanc | to participate, Germany could not n Srf neC *3 Vu CltCd Herr Hitler s le "er to M. Daladier To make pTalfufsoLw *"*** ° f a, of °r ßri,ain be arranged It will bTh.ld t it r, r m'i officia "y announced that the British Note in replv to communication from says a T^ 01 ™^ 1011 0 " informed British Government to set a f ppear to the of which Mr. Chamberlain spoke. * exploration