GERMAN REPLY

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 139, 13 June 1936, Page 9

GERMAN REPLY

BRITAIN'S QUESTIONS EXPECTED NEXT WEEK PROBABLE CONTENTS i United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph— Copyright. LONDON, June 12. The Berlin correspondent of "The Times" says that the German reply to the British questionnaire is expected to reach London next week. It will probably suggest oral discussion as the best method of negotiation. It is unlikely to commit Germany to acceptance of present territorial arrangements in Europe. A genuine and lasting peace, it is held, cannot be based on territorial arrangements forced upon Germany by the Versailles Treaty, and possibly, therefore, the reply will suggest plebiscites among Germans of neighbouring lands.

For the same general reason the question of whether Germany has yet reached equality of rights is also likely to be answered in the negative. The Versailles Treaty, it is argued, was based nominally on self-determination, but that principle has never yet been applied to the German people. Anything Herr Hitler may contrive to do in Austria might therefore be represented as havjrig been done in accordance with the principles on which the Versailles peace was concluded. SOVIET INFLUENCE. The reply is expected freely to refer to the Franco-Soviet Treaty, which Germany holds has revolutionised the European situation, making general limitation of armaments impossible at present, although it is argued that this is no reason why a start should not be made with prohibition of the largest guns and tanks and the negotiation of a western air pact.

The German Government is uncompromising in preferring to deal with leach country or group of countries | separately. She has not the slightest desire to participate in a general congress of Powers. In such a gatheiing she fears she might find herself arguing her case single-handed against countries which stand to lose by its successful prosecution.

The reply will also probably indicate that Germany is in no hurry to join the League.