THEATRICAL ACTION

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 46, 18 November 1936, Page 11

THEATRICAL ACTION

German Repudiation of Rivers Clause METHOD REGRETTED (Press Assn. Cable and British Official Wireless.) London, November 16. Replying to a question by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. C. R. Attlee, in the House of Commons regarding the German denunciation of the waterways provisions of the Versailles Treaty, the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Anthony Eden, recalled Herr Hittier's statement of May 21, 1935, regarding the remaining articles of the Versailles Treaty, including, it was understood, those relating to waterways, that the German Government would only carry out by peaceable understanding such revision as was inevitable in the course of time. Mr. Eden added that Germany’s action protracted considerably the success of negotiations which had lieen progressing for many years with a view to reconciling German desirata with other Powers. The Britisli Government therefore regretted that Germany had again abandoned negotiation for unilateral action, not because British trading interests were jeopardised, but because Germany's action would render more difficult the conduct of international relations.

Newspapers state that although the Note lias not caused much anxiety or surprise, the method of denunciation is regretted. "The Times” says: "Each fresh announcement of the kind makes more difficult'the task of those who are endeavouring to promote international cooperation and the settlement of outstanding questions by mutual goodwill." “The Times” finds it difficult to believe that Germany has achieved anything that whs unattainable by more regular methods. It agrees that Germany had legitimate objections to the system of international control of waterways, but points out that the agreement on the subject, largely based on proposals Germany herself had put forward, was reached in April and was to have become effective in six weeks’ time—on January 1, All the Powers concerned had agreed to its terms with the exception of Holland, whose consent: also had within the last few days been definitely promised. In these circumstances “The Times” considers tlie German action “unnecessary and theatrical.”