ANOTHER COUP BY HERR HITLER

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21941, 16 November 1936, Page 9

ANOTHER COUP BY HERR HITLER

Germany Free From Versailles

EUROPE’S INLAND WATERWAYS INTERNATIONAL CONTROL DENOUNCED (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.) (Received November 15, 9.40 p.m.) BERLIN, November 14. Herr Hitler has denounced the clauses of the Versailles Treaty dealing with the inter- > nationalisation of the rivers Elbe, Oder, Niemen, and Danube. Thus he declares Germany free from every shackle imposed by the treaty. j The action will presumably affect Czechoslovakian shipping to Hamburg by the Elbe and | also international traffic on the j Rhine, which henceforth will be subjected to any regulations I Germany may impose. j A London message says a German I rote handed to the 16 powers concerned states that for almost a century before the Great War freedom of shipping and equality of status formed the basis of successful cooperation by the states bordering the banks of navigable rivers. On the contrary, the Versailles Treaty, to •the detriment of Germany, unilaterally erected aff artificial system running counter to the -practical needs of shipping by forcing on Germany lasting international control of the waterways, and transferring German -sovereign rights to commissions with extensive co-operation by states not bordering on these rivers. The German Government earnestly tried to remove this intolerable system by other agreements, aiming at an understanding, at the latest by January 1, which would have been compatible with the German standpoint. These efforts failed because the other Governments have not agreed to abolish the system incompatible with German rights. Regarding the Oder there is still in existence an international commission in which Germany is not participating. Regarding the Danube, Germany unsuccessfully tried for 10 years to be readmitted to the estuary commission. Moreover, other powers think they must maintain jurisdiction over the Kiel canal which was arbitrarily enforced by the Versailles Treaty. The German Government cannot assume responsibility for the continuance of this situation. In view of this it no longer recognises the stipulations of Versailles on waterways, and consequently renounces that provision of the agreement reached on May 4 regarding the Rhine. No Discrimination The Government also declares that shipping on all German rivers is open to all countries at peace with Germany, There will be no discrimination against foreign vessels if German vessels are granted the same rights elsewhere. Herr Hitler’s action is regarded as the more remarkable on account of the denunciation of the German agreement with Franc j due to operate on January 1, under which France surrendered the permanent chairmanship of the Central Rhine .Commission in favour of a rotatory system, whereby a German would be the first chairman, while voting was also equalised. France regards Herr Hitler’s gesture as regrettable, but is not disposed to take the decision too tragically, as it will not materially change the situation, France having virtually no use for the rights the clauses conferred. British official quarters dislike the coup, not because unusual diplomatic consequences are expected, but because it is felt that the abrupt denunciation and tearing up of agreements is unjustified. Germany could have asked for revision at a conference, as m urkey did over the Dardanelles, when German sovereignty would undoubtedly have been recognised. M. Jan Masaryk, the Czechoslovakian Minister in London; says friendly negotiations on the waterways have been proceeding between the countries interested, including Germany and Czechoslovakia. It is explained that international control was originally designed to give countries without a seaboard, like Czechoslovakia and Switzerland, access to the sea, which Germany is now able to sever.