RHINELAND ISSUE

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXX, Issue 4833, 14 April 1936, Page 8

RHINELAND ISSUE

CASE FOR THE FRENCH. UNSUCCESSFUL OVERTURES. The consul-general of France in "Australia (M. Suzor) has forwarded a copy of the terms of the declaration given to the Press by M. Flandin, French Minister of Foreign Affairs, in connection with the unilateral denunciation by Germany of the Locarno Treaty, and the sending of military detachments to the Rhineland. It is as follows: — On the 28th February last a Paris newspaper published an interview from the Chief of the German State containing a solemn appeal for Franco-German reconciliation. This manifestation had the immediate and full attention of the French Government. Moreover, France has not waited for this to make clear her desire for an understanding between the two countries, and the French Minister of Foreign Affairs had given public expression of this desire in a speech from the Parliamentary« Tribune. This nothwithstanding the fact that for more than one year there had been no answer from the German Government to the overtures that were made to it; notwithstanding the fact, also, that when, in November last, the French ambassador in Berlin urged German participation in an air pact, the Reich had asked, on the plea of the international situation, to postpone any negotiations. Audience With Hitler. Oh February 29 last, the day following Hitler's appeal' for reconciliation, the French ambassador was instructed to ask an audience of the Chancellor, and to request him to define on which basis he saw the possibility of bringing about an understanding that France desired as much as Germany. The ambassador, M. Francois Poncet, immediately complied with these instructions, in the course of an audience given to him by Hitler in the presence of Herr Von Neurath. This answer stated that the intention was to study the question in order to submit in the nearest future concrete propositions to the French Government. At the same time the German Government requested us, in order to avoid interfering with the negotiations thus tentatively begun, that the visit of the French ambassador be kept secret for

the time being. This request was acceded to. Informed that Herr von Neurath wished to see hiem, M. F. Poncet has been handed -a memorandum by which the German Government unilaterally repudiates the Locarno Treaty and declares its intention to act at once on this decision. The Locarno Treaty, however, states that the pact must remain in force until otherwise decided by the Council of .the Society of Nations. In explanation of its denunciation, the German Government invokes the existence of the Franco-Soviet Treaty, of which it gives an erroneous interpretation, and which it then proceeds to declares incompatible with the Locarno Treaty. In so doing, the German Government ignores the justifications supplied in that respect by the French Government, since almost one year—justifications which have met with the unanimous approval of the other signatories of the Locarno Treaty. However justified the German Government may have thought its grievances, its duty was, should it have deemed the diplomatic channel insufficient, to submit those grievances to the procedure of conciliation and arbitration prescribed in such a case by the treaty that Germany had signed with France at Locarno. The Basis.

Asked whether the memorandum handed to the French Ambassador was meant to constitute the answer promised him, the German Government answered that this document indicated the basis on which further exchange of views could take place, and that it contained the answer to the French request. Apparently, the Franco-German reconciliation would then have as a basis the unilateral denunciation of a treaty freely signed by both parties, the signatories of which had in view to prevent this reconciliation. Moreover, since the German Government has sent military units into the Rhineland a reconciliation founded . on such a basis would also mean the i acceptance of the accomplished fact. It is the duty of the French Government to publish these facts. While reserving any decision that may be deemed necessary, the French Government has communicated with the other signatories of the Locarno Treaty with the object of presenting a common front against unilateral repudiation of treaties. In conformity with the stipulation of the Locarno Pact, it has been decided to bring this breach of treaty obligations before the Council of the Society of Nations.