STILL TENSE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 79, 14 March 1936, Page 5

STILL TENSE

FRANCE & GERMANY PARIS YIELDS NOTHING Final Choice, Says Berlin BRITAIN’S ALTERNATIVES <By Telesraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received 14, 10.40 a.m.) PARIS, March 13. There are no signs of easing of the international tension, some observers even declaring that Herr Hitler’s speech has made the situation more acute. The fact that Britain considers the latest German proposals unsatisfactory, however, has produced an excellent impression in Paris, where it is considered that a peaceful solution can only be obtained by close Anglo-French collaboration, the newspapers pointing out that France has not refused comprehensive conversations with Germany. On the contrary, M. Poncet was entrusted with a mission to solicit an understanding on March 2. .

“The Times” Paris correspondent says;, “Authoritative sources declare that nothing will induce France to renounce the right to oppose violation of a treaty which is regarded as the keystone of her security.” However, a Berlin message says that political circles realise that Germany must take a fateful decision in the next few days whether to sacrifice her national pride to political expediency, opening the door to further international co-operation. One of the reasons why Germany may prove more conciliatory is the desire for colonies. It is realised that there is little chance of obtaining their return, which is the next object of German policy, unless she satisfies the world of her sincerity and goodwill. “Germany has done her share for the the pacification of Europe. She now expects others to do theirs,” epitomises the comment in Berlin morning papers, in which the German official statement is given prominence, especially the Government’s determination to “rather choose honourable isolation than continue to live as a nation discriminated against in the community of peoples.” The “Berliner Tageblatt” says the Government’s statement is “the last appeal to the conscience of politicians assembled in London.” It adds: “Germany has shown she is ready to make sacrifices for the ideals of European co-operation, and in this serious hour assures the world that she will honestly observe honest agreements.” The “Kreutz Zeitung” strongly appeals to Britain, saying: “It is hardly imaginable that the British people could support France, especially after Mr Eden’s statement in the House of Commons that there was no reason for the assumption that the German action contained a hostile threat.”

The London correspondent of the “Boersen Zeitung” says: “Britain must now decide whether she favours the system of a European policy which is for keeping down Germany, or a system of independent European States with equal rights.”

General Goering, in a speech at Koenisberg, said; “Come what may, Ger many will stand together like one man to the last breath. We have offered the world peace, but peace must come from both sides.”

The “Deutche Allegmeine Zeitung” gives prominence to an article described as “coming from a special quarter” warning the Locarno Powers that if there is any further condemnation of Germany she will deliver her final blow at the League of Nations as Herr Hitler will never consent to return to it.

LOCARNO UNITY

BRUSSELS, March 12. M. van Zeeland, addressing the Belgian Parliament, expressed confidence in the future provided that the Locarno signatories were firmly united.