HITLER STATES HIS TERMS TO LEAGUE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 81, 17 March 1936, Page 7

HITLER STATES HIS TERMS TO LEAGUE

Bargain Forthwith REPLY DISAPPOINTS Flandin Flatly Refuses to Agree THE LEAGUE AT STAKE LONDON, March 16. It Is officially stated that Herr Hitler will accept the League Council’s invitation to send a representative to London. Herr Fnedrich Gaus, Germany’s diplomatic and legal authority, has left for London. Apparently, if Germany is represented at the League Council it will be by Herr von Hoesch, Ambassador in London. Hwr Hitler’i reply, which was signed by Baron von Naurath, Foreign Minister, states that Germany is prepared in principle to accept the invitation and assumes that her representatives will participate on equal terms with representatives of other Powers in the Council’s discussions and decision, and adds: “Germany must draw attention to the following fundamental considerations — namely, the German Government’s action which led to the summoning of the Council by France and Belgium does not consist merely in the restoration of German sovereignty in the Rhineland but is bound up with comprehensive concrete proposals to give a new assurance of peace in Europe. The German Government regards its political action as a whole, the component parts of which cannot be separated from one another. “Germany, therefore, can participate ia the Council proceedings only if she is assured that the Powers concerned ar* prepared to enter into negotiations forthwith regarding her proposals.’’ British circles, though amenable tc Herr Hitler’s request for equal treatment, regard the reply generally as disappointing. However, the Council must decide at a secret meeting to-day whether Germany’s conditions are ac- ! captable. M. Flandin, in an interview, formally refused to admit Herr Hitler’s proposals to discuss Locarno simultaneously with peace suggestions because he (M. Flandin) had come to London to enable the violation of the Locarno Treaty ( to be recorded. “I will nbt agree to discuss anything else,’* said M. Flandin. “I will, if necessary, leave London, and even the Court- , cih” The opinion is generally expressed in Paris that the League’s future is at etake. Herr Hitler’s reply has caused surprise, because the conditions are re- ( garded as tantamount to 'refusal. France will not change her policy, considering that the Council’s main discussions must be negotiations or no negotiations, sanctions or no sanctions. The entire Cabinet supports M. Flandin's statement.

M. Sarraut, Premier, has received a telegram from members of tho General Municipal Council of Sidi Bel Abbes, tho headquarters of the Foreign Legion in Algeria, assuring the Government, in tho name of the Moslem population, of its inalienable attachment to France and its willingness to defend the country’s rights.

“The Times’’ Berlin correspondent says: “Herr Hitler and his colleagues are unanimous that they are not willing to sit at a council table at which the exclusive subjects of discussion will be guilt or otherwise of Germany regarding the violation of Locarno and Versailles. Meanwhile, Berlin life proceeds normally, though the Nazi leaders are in constant conclave regarding preparations to stand an economic siege and resist military invasion, though the latter is not now seriously expected.’’