WAR NEARER

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 59, 10 March 1936, Page 9

WAR NEARER

FEELING JN FRANCE

GERMANY'S STRATEGICAL 1

ADVANTAGE

ADVANCE-OX PAEIS

(Receiyed March 10, 10.30 a:m.) LONDON, March 9.

The "Manchester Guardian's" Paris correspondent says that naturally there is much wild talk, not excluding the words : "mobilisation" and "war." Feeling is most bitter, though this does ■ not mean that French opinion at present favours marching into the Rhineland, but it is certain that Herr Hitler's action has brought the. danger of war nearer. • This latest • piece "of Attila diplomacy confirms the impression that has been long entertained that Herr Hitler/wants £bove all a free hand in the East and hegemony in Eastern and Central . Europe, after which he would have France at his mercy. The "Manchester Guardian" editorially emphasises Germany's disregard of M. Flandin's offer to submit the Franco-Soviet Pact to The Hague and court the destruction of a treaty into which she freely entered. OVERTHROW OF FRANCE. The "Manchester Guardian's" diplomatic correspondent, states, that the military significance of Herr Hitler's action lies in the enormous strategical advantage that control of the demilitarised zone gives her against France, and that it lavours any probable plan for advance on Paris' through the Dutch province of Limbourg and through Belgium and Luxembourg. Herr Hitler has gone a long way on the road to realising what he declared in his book "Mem Kampf," that it was one of the chief aims, of German policy "to overthrow France." The French are convinced. that their continued existence will depend on the attitude of Britain, which France is watching with really tragic concern. In Vienna, the apprehension is growing that the occupation of the Ehine-

land is a prelude to an invasion of Austria, especially as Italy is preoccupied with Abyssinia.

HITLER'S WORD AND SIGNATURE

The "Manchester Guardian's" Geneva correspondent says that the overwhelming opinion in diplomatic and journalistic official circles is that Herr Hitler's word and signature are alike valueless. Few Governments will consider concluding any agreement with Germany in future. Herr Hitler himself reaffirmed the Locarno Treaty in 1935. The repudiation is an application of the maxim in "Mem Kampf" that treaties should be repudiated wherever convenient. There is reason to believe that Herr Hitler told Signor. Mussolini in November that Germany would help him if he held out until the spring. Germany's present action seems a fulfilment of that promise. There will be a tendency to say that the Abyssinian dispute must be concluded at all costs in the face of this new menace to peace in Europe. Moreover, Italy is unlikely to lose the opportunity of blackmailing the other Powers. The "Daily Mail's" Rome correspondent says that while it is denied that Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini arranged the denouncement of the Locarno Treaty, Italy is delighted, believing that Herr Hitler's action will greatly strengthen Italy's position because France will increasingly value her friendship and not wish to do anything to offend her. ASSERTION INVALIDATED. The Berlin correspondent of "The Times" interprets Herr Hitler's speech as an attempt to, placate Britain and throw the responsibility on France for Germany's action, which, however, does not entail mere rectification of a Dne-sided clause of the Versailles Ireaty but repudiation of the whole freely-negotiated Treaty of Locarno, which Germany spontaneously signed and Herr Hitler repeatedly reasserted, declaring that he regarded th« demilitarised zone as a contribution towards the appeasement of Europe. "Hitherto Herr Hitler has boasted that he has never broken his personal pledge. That assertion is now invalidated." The "Daily Mail," in a leader, deprecates regarding the Rhineland occupation as a crisis and recalls that Marshal Foch regarded it as eventually inevitable. The "Daily Mail' urges rejection of sanctions against Germany and adds that her stroke has cleared the air and not seriously affected France's safety. The "Neavs-Chronicle," in a leader, says: "Herr Hitler's invitation must be taken up without delay. European civilisation is unsafe while Germany suffers a sense of grievance. Refusal means war, while peace based on a contented Germany is better for France than a frontier manned in terror of invasion." BLOW AT LOCARNO. "The Times," in a leader, says that Herr Hitler's invasion of the Khineland strikes at the weakest point in the Locarno Treaty. The demilitarisation of the Hhineland was not destined to be permanent. There is a distinction between the present occupation and carrying fire arid sword into a neighbour's territory. The "Daily Mail's" city editor says that the rapid changes which came over the European political situation was calmly received in the city, which is not pessimistic, but Parisian selling of francs unsettled the exchange market, necessitating. intervention by the authorities at Paris,' and the market was calmer before the close. Some quarters are of opinion that the eventual outcome of Germany's action will be the removal of causes of friction. While hesitancy can be expected on Monday, no marked change in the markets is anticipated. There is no occasion for investors to sell. BRITAIN IN HONOUR BOUND. "The Times" recalls that M. Flandin, in his speech to the Chamber of Deputies on February 25, offered to submit any German objections to the Franco-Soviet Pact on the ground of its alleged incompatibility with the Locarno Treaties to the International Court at the Hague, and adds: "Though realisation of the constructive aims outlined in the German memorandum is greatly to be desired, it is felt that the short cut of easy complacency towards Herr Hitler's violation of solemn treaty pledges might prove to be the longest and perhaps a disastrous road. Great Britain has held France to the League Covenant and the policy of collective action through the trying courses of the Italo-Abyssinian dispute. She is in honour -bound to remain true to her own pledges in full consideration of the position of France. A firm stand for sanctity of international obligations—the foundation of the