NAVAL AGREEMENT

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 158, 20 June 1935, Page 7

NAVAL AGREEMENT

PARIS VIEW OF PACT

Triumph (or Herr Hitler

THE BILATERAL ASPECT ’Sv Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.’ (Received 20, 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 19. Paris newspapers describe the AngloGerman naval pact as a triumph for Herr Hitler. “Le Journal” says: The issue is definitely favourable to France, as the agreement does not provide strict delimitation by categories. “Le Petit Parisian” says: The agreement is equivalent to a permanent final treaty and has the bilateral aspect so dear to Herr Hitler, who will not hesitate to proclaim the weakness of the ties of solidarity between London, Paris and Rome. The “Echo de Paris” says: The treaty marks the end of the accord reached by Britain and France in February and confirmed at Stresa. German newspapers whole-heartedly welcome the agreement. “The Tageblatt” says: We are convinced that France wants peace, but how can peace be achieved without first restoring order in Europe, towards which the agreement is the first step? The “Germania” says: By the agreement peace has gained more territory than was gained by the anti-German policy of the last 18 months.

The “Voelkischer Beobachter” says the German delegation made it clear that the only purpose of the fleet was to defend Germany’s 900 miles of coast. Even French diplomacy should be able for once to examine the facts without prejudice. Mr Hector Bywater, in the “Daily Telegraph,” points out that the rebirth of German naval power will mean the return of the North Bea to its former strategic importance. The Rosyth dockyard and the fleet base at Scapa Flow, which have long been closed, will possibly be re-opened. He adds that Germany’s eventual submarine fleet may, under the agreement, be 36 U boats, or 10 more than the number she had in August 1914.

The “Daily Telegraph’s” diplomatic correspondent says: The Government has decided to send Mr Anthony Eden on a visit to Paris on Friday to remove any doubto existing in the French mind that Britain acted heedlessly in concluding a direct agreement, with Germany without previous consultation with the other Powers, concerned. “The Times” political correspondent says that Britain is also inviting Russia to confer. America and Japan communicated. with Britain, stating that they are in favour of the agreement. GENERAL CONFERENCE PLAN Naval Armament-Air Pact (Briu'sh Official Wireless.) (Received 20, 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, June 19, Further steps in preparation for the holding of a general conference on the limitation, of naval armaments are now under consideration by the British Government. Exchanges of views and information with the United States and Japanese delegates have already taken place, and it is anticipated that the Anglo-German talks which resulted yesterday in an agreement, will be concluded on Friday.

Expert naval advisers attached to the British and German delegations conferred to-day on certain technical points arising out of the agreement. It is understood that the matters under discussion included such questions as sizes and types of ships and contraction programmes.

Probably the next series of talks to be held in London will be with France, but meanwhile Mr Anthony Eden will visit Paris and discuss with French Ministers certain aspects of the question with particular reference to the Anglo-German agreement. Other matters of European concern will come under review in these Paris conversations, including the present stage and the future steps to be taken in connection with the project for a Western air pact. An exchange of views between Italy and Britain on naval matters is also in contemplation. The Soviet Goverenment is being kept informed of the trend of these preliminary discussions.