WITHDRAWAL OF TROOPS

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21729, 11 March 1936, Page 11

WITHDRAWAL OF TROOPS

FRENCH CONDITION FOR NEGOTIATION GERMANY NOT LIKELY TO AGREE (UNITED PEE 33 ASSOCIATION—COPIiUGHT.) (Received March 10, 11.3 p.m.) PARIS, Marcji 10. , France . has moved up ■• 150,000 troops—half the normal home force —to the Maginot line of fortifications.' It is authoritatively stated that France is ready to negotiate with Germany, provided the troops are withdrawn and a conference held at Geneva within the framework of the league. A Berlin message says that an official spokesman denounced France's intransigeance, declaring that Herr Hitler's offer is France's last big chance and that France can now have security as never before. The French condition that German troops should be withdrawn is regarded in Germany as out of the question, although it is reported that the troops are forbidden to approach within eight miles of the frontier as a gesture of friendship to France. HOUSE REASSURED MR EDEN EASES FEAR OF HOSTILITIES PRAISE FOR GOVERNMENT'S DIRECTNESS (Received March 10, 7.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 9. The Sun-Herald news service says that immediate reactions to Mr Eden's statement in the House of Commons were very favourable. The opinion in the lobbies was that the Government's directness will have a very steadying effect on the Continent.

The House, earlier in a grim mood, was noticeably reassured when Mr Eden declared that there was no reason to suppose that the present German action implied a threat of hostilities. Prolonged cheers of approval interrupted Mr Eden's declaration that Germany had profoundly shaken confidence in any future engagement into which the German Government might enter. Opening the defence debate, Mr Baldwin asserted that France had virtually - .ecked the Disarmament Conference. This statement met wide approval, because although members of the House are completely unsympathetic towards Germany, they feel that France cannot altogether be absolved from contributing to the present crisis. Every Empire High Commissioner was present during Mr Eden's statement and took notes in the gallery. This illustrated strikingly the Doninions' difficulties when an emergency arises as at present. Events move so quickly that it is impossible adequately to consult the Dominions' representatives. Admittedly such a situation rarely arises, but it proves that the machinery for consultation must inevitably suffer in times of crisis.