AIR LOCARNO PLAN

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 119, 13 February 1935, Page 9

AIR LOCARNO PLAN

German Reply Expected This Week READY TO NEGOTIATE Decision a Success For Moderates Bv Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. (Received February 12, 5.20 p.m.) London, February 12. The “Daily Mail’s” Berlin correspondent says it is expected that Germany’s reply to the aerial Locarno proposal will be communicated to France and Britain on February 14. It is understood she accepts the plan as a basis of negotiation with reservations that Germany’s right to such army, navy and air force us she considers necessary to security shall be recognised anil not subjected to bargaining or an attempt to barter German equality against others’ security. Also Germany is not committing herself to a definite programme, but merely participating as an equal partner in negotiations. ‘ The “News Chronicles’ Berlin correspondent says that Germany’s decision, which is expected to lead to discussions prefacing a conference, is regarded us a success for the moderates, including the Foreign Office and the Reichswehr over Nazi extremists. Correspondents of British newspapers in Berlin report that Sir John Simon’s speech at the British Chamber of Commerce in Paris, in which he emphasised that the Anglo-French proposals were put forward as “a basis for free and equal negotiation between all concerned,” has been the subject of favourable comment in Berlin, a British official wireless message states. The attitude of the Italian Government toward the proposals was indicated in a statement issued at Rome which declared that “Italian circles look with favour on the final declaration upon the conversations as a whole, and they consider that it contains the possibility of an understanding with Germany and consequently the opening of a period of collaboration between the Powers interested. “In regard more particularly to the aerial pact of mutual assistance, the position of Italy will be established very shortly in a sense of adhesion in principle, subject to consideration of the special situation of Italy as regards Great Britain and vice versa. Responsible Italian circles have noted with satisfaction the standpoint adopted by Great Britain in regard to the independence of Austria and the FrancoItalian agreements of January 7.”