RHINELAND FORCES

Evening Post, Issue 60, 11 March 1936, Page 11

RHINELAND FORCES

GERMAN REPLY TO FRANCE

BALKAN POWERS UNEASY

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.)

(Received March 11, noon.)

LONDON, March 10.

France has moved up 150,000 troops, half of the normal home force, lo the great Maginot Line of fortifications. It is authoritatively stated that France is ready to negotiate with Germany provided her troops arc withdrawn and the conference is held at Geneva within the framework of the League. The French condition of withdrawal is regarded as out of the question at Berlin, although it is reported that German troops have been forbidden to approach within eight miles of the frontier, as a gesture of friendship to France. It is reported from Cologne that the Government is planning an increase in the Rhineland forces. Special billeting offices have been established, and citizens are requested to state how many soldiers they are prepared to accommodate. Germany is to send Baron yon Schmieden, a former League official, to the League Council meeting at Geneva on Friday as an observer to report to Herr Hitler. Little Entente Conference. - It is reported from Athens that Rumania, Yugoslavia, Greece, and Turkey will meet in Belgrade on March 23 to discuss the attitude of the signatories to the Balkan Pact in the event of a European conflict. The respective Governments «nd the respective General Staffs are anxious to come to a complete understanding. There have been rumours of hurried secret military preparations in Bulgaria, leading to apprehensions that she intends to denounce clauses of the Treaty of Neuilly, under which she renounced claims to Macedonia and Thrace. Greece and Turkey are reported to have promised Yugoslavia assistance in the event of a conflict with Bulgaria or Italy, provided it is limited to the Balkans. After Mr. Eden's departure for Paris all High Commissioners were received tonight at Downing Street, where Britain's attitude to the Rhineland situation was further explained. . The Australian Associated Press understands that the British and Australian standpoint at the League Council meeting will favour condemnation of Germany's unilateral denunciation of the Locarno Treaty, will emphasise that respect for freely negotiated treaties must be the basis of any attempt to rebuild European peace* but will resist French and Belgian demands for any form of sanction's against Germany because, although the treaty has been broken, aggression,, has not been committed. . Locarno Powers' Exchanges. Representatives of the'signatory and guarantor Powers of the Locarno Treaty met in Paris today for an exchange of views in regard to the situation created by Germany's unilateral repudiation of that treaty. In opening the meeting the French Foreign Minister, M. Flandin, welcomed the representatives and explained that the .object was to exchange information and, define the situation, but that no resolution would be proposed and no decision taken before the meeting of the Council of the League of Nations wliich has been called for Friday. The exchange of views, will be continued.