LONDON'S LEAD AWAITED

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21728, 10 March 1936, Page 9

LONDON'S LEAD AWAITED

SOME COMMENDATION

FOR HITLER

REJECTION OF FRENCH

DEMANDS URGED

MR EDEX TO MAKE ST A

i'i-MENT

(I'.NTI'KIJ PRESS ASSOCIATI'iK <i) I'YU Ki HT.>

(Received March 9, 10M p.m. J

LONDON, March 9

The Sun-Herald News Servicesays that the consequences of Herr Hitler's action cannot, thus far, even dimly be foreseen. The situation today is that London is cool, Berlin is solidly behind Herr Hitler, Paris is planning her next move for Geneva- and New York is determined to "keep out of Europe's mess." Other European capitals are anxiously waiting for a lead from London.

It is recognised that Parliament will expect the earliest possible statement from the Government on the subject.

This will be made to-morrow in the House of Commons by the Foreign Secretary, Mr R. A. Eden, who will have had an opportunity of full consultation with his colleagues. Meanwhile Mr Eden has been kept closely informed of the trend of opinion in the governments of oilier powers signatory to the Locarno Treaty and in particular with the views of the French Government.

Ail reports from Paris agree that France will demand of the League Council international sanctions against Germany. This places Britain in an unenviable position, as she had led the sanctions movement against Italy.

Ardent pacilists like Sir Philip Gibbs and Mr George Lansbury believe that Herr Hitler's action will possibly bring peace. Sir Philip Gibbs, writing in the ''Sunday Chronicle," says: "Herr Hitler gives new hope to humanity. His seven points arc inspired by the most generous spirit. Peace, if accepted, will blow away the dark fears haunting Ihe world's soul. A refusal would be a criminal act against humanity."

Serious View In a leading article, the "Daily Mail" deprecates the regarding of the Rhincjand occupation as a crisis, recalling that Marshal Foch regarded it as eventually inevitable. The "Daily Mail" uv;j,c>; the rejection of sanctions against Germany and adds: "Her stroke has cleared the air and has not seriousiv affected France's safety."

The "News-Chronicle," in ;i leading article, says: "ilerr Hitler's invitation must ho taken up without cioiay. 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 heller for France llian a frontier manned in terror of invasion."

"The Times" says: "Ilerr Hitler's invasion of the Rhineland strikes at Loc;irno's weakest joint. The demilitarisation of the hhineland was not destined to he permanent. There i.s a distinction hetwoen the present nreupation and carrying fire and sword into a neighbour's territory-'' Tlie political correspondent. of

"The Times" says that Mr Eden told the German Ambassador (Dr. von Iloesch) that P.nUun was bound to take a w\y .serious view of German violation of solemn pledges. Sending troops into the hhineland must be coiidomned. Germany had every riuhf to state li<t objections to lh'> Franco-Sovir-t pact, hut her action eoiiM have been along the lines of the I.oearno treatv.

Moreover, althour.lt a realisation '•f Germany's constructive aims is desirable, it. is hj it thai the shortout of easy eo-.iplacoucv towards Horr Hitler's violation of pledges mi.chl he the |ongo;;| and perhaps the most disastrous road. r<>usi(V'r;?<i(m XV- d Discussing Germany's inoccupation of the demilitarised /one and the terms of the memorandum, the newspapers emphasise that the unilateral denunciation of treaties is., on the face of it, a precarious basis on which to construct a new peace effort. They agree, however, that the memorandum must be patiently and carefully examined by the Governments to which it is addressed.

A leading article in the 'Observer'' says that Ilerr Hitler has raised the mailed fist of one hand and offered the olive branch, with the other. While his troops marched into the Rhineland zone, he outlined comprehensive proposals for the peace of Europe. "The Fuhrer thus gives unilateral notice that the entire territory of Germany will henceforth be subject to the unfettered control of the German Government. What he said yesterday is bound at once to become the focus of diplomatic activity.

"Brilliant and timely as are the German proposals, they must be considered this time with sober realism as well as deep goodwill. Germany repudiates a treaty she freely signed and recently reaffirmed. No longer does she argue that an imposed treaty cannot bind her. She does not refer the Locarno treaty to arbitration. She rejects her own signature.

Hitler's Success Predicted

"We hope and believe that in the elucidations of the next few days both Russian and French misgivings will be fairly met in Berlin. If that be so Herr Hitler's proposals will prove to have performed a valuable service."

The "Sunday Times" says that this is not the first time Herr Hitler has adopted such methods. It recalls that the same method was practised when conscription was restored, when the ban on heavy artillery was transgressed, and when German forces were re-equipped v/ith fighting aeroplanes and submarines. "In all these steps," it states, "he successfully defied a Europe too much divided and distracted to enforce its right. He will succeed this time again. ' "The value of the whole system proposed by Herr Hitler in his memorandum depends on the confidence with which other powers can feel.