END OF FRIENDSHIP WITH GERMANY?

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 142, 12 March 1938, Page 11

END OF FRIENDSHIP WITH GERMANY?

Plebiscite Called Unfair By Ribbentrop HITLER CONFERS WITH HIS ADVISERS (Received March 11, 8.10 p.m.) London, March ill. The Austrian plebiscite was the subjest of conference between Herr Hitler and his advisers. Whatever Germany may do Dr. von Schuschnigg’s action appears to have ended friendly Austrian-German relations which were thought to have been inaugurated at Berchtesgaden, the Berlin correspondent of “The Times.” According to a Berlin message the first news of the Austrian plebiscite appeared on Thursday afternoon in a brief official summary. The newspapers generally ask why there is need for haste and how can a true index of feeling be obtained when there are no voting lists, there is no control - , and polling is open to all sorts of abuses. . It is understood that Lord Halifax yesterday asked Herr von Ribbentrop, German Foreign Minister, for an undertaking from the German Government that it would not try to influence the Austrian plebiscite, says the diplomatic correspondent of the “Daily A similar request was sent to Sir Nevile Henderson for submission to the German Government. Herr von Ribbentrop replied that he could not give such an undertaking without, consulting Herr Hitler, winch he would do immediately lie returned to Berlin. He added that the German Government did not regard the plebiscite as cither fair or “free.” as the age limit of 24 years barred many Nazi sympathisers from voting. Italy Stands Aloof. According to a Rome message, an authoritative observer states that Italy considers the plebiscite an internal atfair. “We are merely observers, he added.