DELEGATES FACE CRITICAL PERIOD

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 149, 19 March 1936, Page 9

DELEGATES FACE CRITICAL PERIOD

Germany to be Represented at League Council Discussions Dy Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received March IS, 10 p.m.) London, March IS. According to the “Daily Telegraph’s" diplomatic correspondent the most striking proposal in the British memorandum which "as presented to the meeting of the League Council yesterday "itth object of dealing with the European cnsis and permanently pacif) ? the frontiers between France, Belgium and Germany, is for the J manent internationalisation of the FranCo ;Gernian-Belgian frontiei. It is suggested that a special zone, oO miles deep, shou J • created bn both sides of the frontier, policed by some form of international force, presumably acting on behalf of the League, would provide a permanent symbol of the guarantees embodie • the Locarno Pact. Britain further proposes that Trance should mamtain existing fortifications but not improve them. Germany would be entitled to build fortifications on her side of the frontier. , will meet again at 12.15 p.m. to-day. A British authority admitteu The Locarno Powers’ meeting ended at 12.30 a.m., and delegate. will meet again at 12.15 p.m. to-day. A high British authority admitted that the Powers had not yet agreed among themselves regarding then programme. “The most delicate stage has now been reached,” he said. “The next 48 hours will show whether agreement is possible.” He added that the objective was a new and lasting settlement for Western Europe, but there must be first a measure of agreement among the Locarno Powers other than Germany. That agreement would in no wav be directed against Germany, but i was an essential preliminary to any agreement into which they hoped Germany and others would eventually come.

The German Government, in reply to the. League Councils invitation. has informed the League secretariat that Germany .will send a representative, who will participate in the discussions on a basis of equality with other delegates, to the League Council. Herr von Ribbentrop has been selected as the German representative.