TO KEEP PEACE

Grey River Argus, 1 April 1935, Page 5

TO KEEP PEACE

EUROPEAN PLAN IN THE MAKING Outside of Germany (Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn.) MOSCOW. March 29. After conversing with M. Litvinoff on Anglo -Soviet trade and mutual Far E-ist problems, Mr. Eden met M. Stalin for further discussions, Genera -atisfaction is expressed with yesterday s conversations, Mr. Eden to-morrow will motor to M. Litvinoff’s country home whore they will continue their talks. (British Official Wireless). RUGBY, March 29. Tn Moscow, Mr. Eden was the guest ot honour at a banquet, when both ho and M. T.itvinoff spoke. M. T.itvinoff declared that European peace must be maintained bv a collective system of all States, and especially the groat Powers. Mr. Edvn in reply stated that the British foreign policy was based on the League, and the essence of the League was universality. It therefore was n great gain when Russia joined it. TAw main object of tiie League was peace and the betterment of relations between the countries. Pence was also the prime object of the poliev of the United Kingdom. He was confident that this was also the foreign policy of the Soviet Union. It was his firm belief that the position in Europe could only be improved by a frank exchange of views between the representatives of the great naMR EDEN'S MOVEMENTS. ENTERTAINED TN RUSSIA. MOSCOW, March 30. Mr Anthony Eden (Lord Privy Seal) to-dav visited the country home of the Soviet Foreign Minister. M. T.itvinoff. situated thirty miles from Moscow Thev had a lengths- conversation there before lunch. Mr Eden was entertained at the Red Army's Club in the evening, after which ho had dinner with M. Litvinoff and M. VnroshihfT at the British Embassy. Mr Eden goes to Warsaw on Sunday. BRITAIN AND JAPAN. SOVIET'S SOUNDINGS. (Received March 31 nt 0.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 30. According to several sources. Mr Eden and M. Litvinoff have discussed Far Eastern problems. M Litvinoff was anxious to discover the British attitude towards Japanese expansion. JAPAN'S POLICY. TOKTO. March 29. The Foreign Office Spokesman declared that whatever happens in Europe there would be no change in Cue fixed Japanese policy, so far as Fast Asia was concerned namely, nonnggress'on against neighbours and to maintain pence, which Japan was prepared to do. if pence were threatened. What was Said at Moscow SOVIET SUSPICIOUS. AS TO BRITISH ATMS. (Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn.) LONDON, March 30. The “Daily Telegraph's” diplomatic correspondent says; “It is obvious that the Soviet has long entertained suspicions that British policy has been framed on lines hostile to Russia, because Britain has been unsympathetic with Russia’s Communist regime. Mr Eden stressed that British policy was not biased against any country, but that it aimed at world peace. There was no evidence that ilie Soviet cherished aggressive ambitions. On the contrary, there were

signs that Russia is fully preoccupied with her problems of domestic organisation, which organisation cannot approach perfection for one generation, or even two generations. Russia, apparently, is genuinely apprehensive as to her safety, both in the East and in the West.

“Thus, within a week Mr Eden has heard an expression from the German and the Soviet leaders of their apprehensions concerning each other’s intentions. This, at least, suggests a reason for Poland’s fears, seeing that her territories divide two large and mutually apprehensive countries “The Soviet is now more ready, as the result of Mr Eden’s removal of its suspicions, to recognise that good rela tions with B it: in are more important than the academic political policy which once was actively directed i” an anti-British sense. The talks at Moscow may lead to increased interstate trade, though additional Russion orders are likely to be obtained onlv on a credit basis.” Sir Eden’s talks with M. Stalin were virtually identical with the talks he had with M. Litvinoff. The British delegates consider thati the Moscow conversations have been extremely useful. ’ ’ Grave Problem GERMANY’S STRENGTH. NEW SITUATION CREATED. RUGBY. March 30. Until the exploratory conversations which Mr R. A. Eden (Lord Privy Seal) is having in Moscow. Warsaw and Prague, have been completed, no full statement upon the Gorman position, which is still under consideration. is likely to be made. When all the facts have been ascertained and correlated, they will come under the discussion of Sir John Sim'On (Foreign Secretary), Signor Mussolini and M. Pierre Laval (French Foreign Minister), at Stresa. Further particulars which London newspapers contain in regard to the explorations in Berlin serve to trengthen the general impression of the gravity of the problem which will confront those statesmen when they meet. According to the “Daily Telegraph,” the “News Chronicle,” and the “Daily Herald,” among other

journals, Herr Hitler is said to hav stated that Germany has already at air force as large as the British Royal Air Force, or slightly larger that she desires a navy on a parit with France and Italy, and that th effect of her conscription will be t equip her with a force of 550.000 men The “News Chronicle’’ says: “I is now realised in London that a nev situation in Europe has to be faced and the altered outlook gives addet importance to the Stresa Conference.’ KEEPING THE PEACE. POWERS MUST CO-OPERATE. (Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn.) LONDON, Man h 30. The “Manchester Guardian” exI presses the view that in the situation ' that seems to be developing, (treat Britain’s course will be clear. It wil be “to solidify the European system bv every means in our power—and our means are many and our influence great—so that not only will it stand firm, but its strength will be so clearlv recognised that it will not lie attacked. The signs are more hopeful than the pessimist might think. Despite all the failures and alarums of the la.-t two years, Europe is already co-operating more closely—witness th< now co-operation of the Balkan countries. the understandings between Franco and Italy, and between Italy and Yugo-Siavia. and the approach of Russia B> lhe west and our n«n approach to Russia. It is our genuine desire that Germany should take part in this process of cohesion, but one thing is certain —the process must go on.’’ The “Dailv TTernld ” takes the line that the “whole influence and power of Great Britain must now bo given to so strengthening the League of Nations and the system of collective security, which is its essence, as to make aggression unthinkable.’-' Die “Dailv Herald - ’ adds: “Without Germnnv, the League is incomplete, but oven without Germany, the League if it be a true League, can keep the peace in Europe. RUGBY. March 30. “The Times,’’ referring to the proposals for an eastern European pact and in an effort to understand the Ger man arguments against such a measure, suggests:—“Perhaps a general eastern European air convention might be a useful cover for particular defensive agreements. The importance of the air is paramount there ns it is in the west and some objections which Poland is known also to entertain toward the proposed security pact might possibly be modified if the general obligation to act was confined to the element which does not involve the occupation of one country by troops of another, even for the purposes of mutual assistance. “The first need of civilisation in the east, ns in the west, is to oppose to the concentration of bombing aeroplanes an overwhelming combination of forces. ’ ’ GERMAN FEAR OF RUSSIA. IS IT GENUINE? RUGBY. March 30. The “Dailv Telegraph,” referring to the considerable divergence of opinion between the British and German Governments, which Sir John Simon informed the House of Commons that the Berlin conversations revealed, thinks it is at least to the good that revelation has so frankly and openly been made in regard to Herr Hitler’s attitude toward Russia. This paper says: “British opinion will ask why. if Germany justifies the magnitude of her military and air requirements bv the size of Russian establishments and bv her dread of the Communist peril, and if she has no ulterior designs of eastern expansion, she should appear to be so rootedly opposed to entering into a pact of collective security. GERMAN DEFENCE. COMMANDEERING LANDS. (Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn.) BERLIN. March 30. The Government has formed a Board of Land Acquirement. It is with dictatorial powers which will enable it to expropriate and compensate the owners of land that is required for mill-I tary or for other purposes, including those of afforestation, agricultural settlements, and road building. It can also transplant elsewhere farmers whose land has been commandeered. The Board is to supervise extensive appropriations that have already been made for military aerodromes, barracks, camps, and fortifications throughout Germany.

FRENCH SATISFACTION. WITH MR EDEN’S RUSSIAN VISIT. (Received 'March 31 at 7 p.m.) PARIS March 30. “Our impression from Mr A. Eden’s visit is excellent. ’ ’ says a high French official. “He is acquiring a fuller grasp of the importance of Russia’s role in the consolidation of European peace, now that Britain and France, however united they may be. will not be a sufficient check on the German menace. ’ ’ GERMAN DENIAL. OF ALLEGED CLAIMS. LONDON, March 30. The German Embassy here declares the statements that Herr Hitler intimated to Sir John Simon that the German Air Force is already superior to Britain and that he also claimed the restitution of the former German colonies, are both untrue. GERMAN AIR FORCE. EQUAL TO BRITISH. LONDON. March 30. Tn reference to the German Embassy’s denial of reports as to- Herr Hitler’s claim regarding the German Air Force, as earlier, the news bulletin of the British Boardcasting Corporation has announced that there actually is good reason to believe that the German Air Force has now attained an equality with the British Air Force. FIGHTING IT OVER. AGAIN. HITLER’S AND EDEN’S DISCOVERY. (Received March 31. at 7.30 p.m.) PERUN, March 30. A well-authenticated anecdote regarding Mr A. Eden’s visit here relates that while conversing with : Chancellor Hitler at a banquet, Mr

J Eden discovered that they bad simultaneously fought in opposite sections i in war time. Air Eden took a menu, i and drew a sketch of the British po- ' sition. Herr Hitler then sketched in i the opposing German line. > BRITAIN’S DECISION. A BROAD HINT. (Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn.) LONDON, March 30. The "Observer’s’’ diplomatic cor respondent says: The information tha'l has been received from Mr Anthony Eden tends to confirm the impression that Britain will have made a clear cut decision on her policy before hei Stresa Conference with the Governments of France and Italy. Moscow aligns herself unreservedly with those Dowers which advocate collective security either with or without Germany. FRENCH DEFENCE. SPECIAL SCIENTISTS' CORPS. (Received March 31 at 7.10 p.m.) PARTS. March 30. The Cham Tier of Deputies, without a vote, adopted a Bill for the creating of a scientists’ corps d'elite, numbering ISS, with ranks from Captain to General. The corps is to supervise the manufacture of munitions. The Council General of the Seine Department has voted one hundred million francs for the provision of defences against aerial attacks. Part of the money is to be lent to Parisian landlords to convert cellars into shelters. Picking a Quarrel ? NAZIS IN DANZIG. LEAGUE COMMISSIONER FLOUTED. (Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn.) (Received March 31 at 7.10 p.m.) DANZIG, March 30. The Polish newspapers here declare, that Mr Sean Lester, the League of Nations High Commissioner for Danzig, lias bad a heated interview with Herr Greiser. the President of the Danzig Senate. The interview occurred after a speech, in which Herr Greiser attacked the League of Nations, and also Mr Lester himself. Hen’ Greiser, during the interview, allegedly repeated his criticism and also threatened the Danzig Senate’s non-co-operation with the League. Mr Lester refuses to comment, as this may be a matter for the League of Nations Council. CAMPAIGN OF HATE. GERMAN BROADCAST AGAINST LITHUANIA. KOVNO. March 30. Germany is at present broadcasting a campaign of hale and lies against Lithuania, says a semi-official statement issued here in which the German allegations that Nazis (as cabled on March 27) were tortured before their trial are denied. The semi-official statement asserts that Germany has broadcast these allegations for the purpose of inciting opinion against Lithuania. SEIZURE OF ANTI-NAZI JOURNALIST. GERMAN ACTION IN SWITZERLAND. (Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn.) BERNE. March 30. "A smack in the face for the world which cherishes the truth” is the Swiss newspaper description of the German version of the arrest of Jacob, the journalist, and his removal from Switzerland to Germanv, as cabled on March 29. Other newspapers caustically indicate their disbelief in the German version. It is understood that the Swiss Government have dispatched a note to Germany, insisting on the correctness of the Swiss version, cabled on March 27. and adding that Swiss territorial integrity has undoubtedly been violated. The Note therefore is demanding the handing over of Jacob, this to be accompanied by measures against the officials who were responsible for the breach of inter-nation comity.

ITALY'S ARMAMENTS. ROME. March 29. The War Secretary, Signor Baistrocehi. speaking in the Senate, hinted at the formation of a fresh army division called the Sabauda. The necessary war material would be ready in the spring time, he said. Each citizen must be organised. National military culture was Italy’s military doctrine, which would be completed in the New Year. Bombs, hand-grenades, cannon and Maxim guns would shortly be distributed to the troops. The manufacture of artillery had kept pace with the necessity for rapid movement consonant with Italy’s rights as a great nation. The valleys once used for the invasion were effectively blocked and guarded. Italy by next spring would have 600.000 men perfectly armed an! organised, besides the 1912 class, comprising 300,000 in erserve. Arms for Abyssinia ITALY DENIES BREACH. (Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn.) (Received March 31 at 7 p.m.) ROME, March 30. Despite the Abyssinian statement of March 29, Italian official circles deny that the negotiations between .the two Governments have ended. Italy is still desirous of settling the dispute over the frontier by direct discussions. The Cabinet has established a general staff for air organisation in Italian East Africa. ADEN, March 30. In British Somaliland the officials’ leave has been cancelled. This is a precautionary measure in view of the Italo-Abyssinian situation. It is reported that thousands of cases of munitions are destined for Abyssinia, and are held by Djibouti.