AIR CONVENTION

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 114, 7 February 1935, Page 9

AIR CONVENTION

Reception of AngloFrench Plan OPINIONS IN EUROPE Sir A. Chamberlain’s Appeal to Germany NO DEFINITE REPLIES (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, February 5. In authoritative London circles the view is expressed that the reception ' given in Germany, Italy and Belgium to the Anglo-French proposals is of a generally favourable character. None of the Governments concerned has as yet completed its examination of the document, and no definite reply is expected from any one of them for some days. The'proposal that emerged from the Anglo-French Ministerial conversations in London that, as a deterrent against unprovoked aerial aggression by one country on another, there should be a reciprocal regional agreement, has aroused world wide interest. In the countries which were parties to the Locarno Treaties, namely, France, Germany, Italy, and Belgium, the immediate reactions are reported to be favourable. The Belgian Cabinet gave the proposal its approval at a special meeting yesterday, and, although the German Government has not so far given any formal indication of its view, there is no lack of goodwill.' and, according to newspaper correspondence from Berlin, there is a general feeling that the opportunity to make valuable contribution towards the peace of Europe must not be allowed to pass. In‘ltaly the Anglo-French understanding has met with a cordial reception. Reference to the results of the weekend conversations in London was made in a speech at the Anglo-Polish Circle dinner last night by Sir Austen Chamberlain, who, as one of the authors of the Locarno Treaties, is specially qualified to express au opinion on the proposal for a further accord among the Locarno Powers. He greeted it as a happy augury that the provisional agreement was made in the Locarno spirit, which was that any agreement should be negotiated freely among all Powers concerned, and that no single Power should be confronted by a settlement to which the others had already agreed. He rejoiced to learn that Herr Hitler had at least given a promise of serious consideration to this new proposal, and trusted that he would associate his Government with those of the other countries which had been invited to adhere, There was no factor before the war that poisoned so much the relations between nations as the idea which was current in Germany that a policy of encirclement was being pursued by other Pow’ers. Recently, he had seen signs that this feeling was growing up again. If his words would reach German ears, he would beg them to consider the alternative. If they would enter into mutual and reciprocal pacts of security freely negotiated as among equals, there would be no encirclement of Germany, there could be no international agreement against Germany, but there would be a general agreement among all Powers. If one Power refused to enter into those common agreements and mutual guarantees, if it repelled approaches made in a genuine spirit of friendship, could it complain if it found itself isolated? He hoped that in this new proposed agreement a real advance in the pacific relations of nations would be found to be made. EQUALITY ESSENTIAL ' Preliminary Condition ATTITUDE IN GERMANY Berlin, February 5. The Government organ, the “Voelkische Beobachter,” says: “We are convinced that a general agreement concluded in perfect freedom between Germany and other Powers would be an important step forward provided equality for both sides is guaranteed from the beginning." This is a preliminary condition under which alone negotiations can yield results.” TREATY AMENDMENT Japan Expects to be Consulted . (Received February C, 9.55 p.m.) Tokio, February C. Referring to a possible amendment of the Versailles, Treaty military restrictions affecting Germany as a result of the Anglo-French conversations, the Foreign Spokesman said that the Japanese Government would naturally expect to be consulted because Japan is a signatory to the treaty.