DELICATE STAGE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 93, 19 March 1936, Page 7

DELICATE STAGE

DECISIVE HOUR REACHED. BRITAIN’S PROPOSALS. INTERNATIONAL ZONE. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) LONDON, March 18. According to the Daily Telegraph’s diplomatic correspondent the most striking proposal in the Bri*sli memorandum, which was presented to the meeting of the League Council yesterday with the object ot dealing with the European crisis and permanently pacitying tlie frontiers between France, lielgium and Germany, is for the permanent internationalisation of tlie Franco-Gerniaii-Belgian frontier. It .is suggested tnat a special zone, 30 miles ueepr, should be created on both sides ot the frontier, policed by some form of international force, presumably acting on belialt of tlie League, wnich would provide a- permanent symbol of tho guarantees embodied in tne Locarno Pact. Britain further proposes that France should maintain existing fortifications but not improve them. Germany would be entitled to build fortifications on her side of the frontier.

The Locarno Powers’ meeting ended at 12.30 a.m., and delegates will meet again at 12.15 p.m. to-day. A high British authority admitted that tne Powers had mot yet agreed among themselves regarding their programme.

“The most delicate stage lias now been reached,” lie said. “The next 48 hours will show whether agreement is possible.” He added that the objective was a new and lasting settlement for AA’estern Europe, but there must be first a measure of agreement among the Locarno Powers other than Germany. That agreement would in no way be directed against Germany, but it was an essential preliminary to any agreement into which they hoped Germany and others would eventually come.

The German Government, in reply to the League Council’s invitation, has informed the League secretariat that Germany will send a representative, who will participate in the discussions on a basis of equality with other delegates, to the League Council. Herr Yon Ribbentrop lias been selected as the German representative. FLANDIN DISAPPOINTED. BY BRITISH PLAN. EQUAL TREATMENT. LONDON, March 18. In connection with the British proposals M. Flandin, in the evening, made a. statement to the effect that lie is deeply disappointed. M. Flandin says that he is mortified that Britain is not making a distinction between France and Germany, offering equal treatment to both in regard to the security of their common frontier. The diplomatic correspondent of the Times confirms that the British draft proposals lor a AYesfern European settlement provide for tho establishment of a neutral zone between Germany on the one hand and France and Belgium on the other, under the tutelage of an international police force. It adds that tho territory oil the French side of the frontier to be included in this zone would naturally stop short of the Maginot Line of fortifications. The draft, it is understood, also provides for reference of the FrancoSoviet Pact to the Hague Court, but contains no provisions for a western air pact or for any symbolic withdrawal of Gennan troops. On the other hand, it makes provision for British as well as French security.

British authoritative circles emphasise the absolute necessity in the present- most delicate phase of the discussions of unity between the Locarno Powers other than Germany, but also •emphasise that this unity must not he interpreted as being directed against Germany, the simple and obvious fact being that- without prior agreement among the Locarno Powers there can be no real progress toward a AVestern settlement that will include Germany. . . . Moderate Anglo-French opinion feels that France might be inclined to reduce her demands if Britain makes a firm declaration that the Locarno Treaty is still operating, and that in view of the German viqlation of it she is prepared to enter into staff conversations with the French and Belgian Governments regarding military plans for defence. France, holds it essential that this declaration be made without delay in the advance discussions with Germany. Britain, oil the contrary, considers that further security guarantees to France should be given when it becomes clear that France and Germany themselves are reaching a satisfactory agreement.

DEBATE RESUMED. DIVISION OF OPINION. LONDON, March 18. At the League Council’s private session it was suggested that further debate on the Franco-Belgian condemnation” resolution should be deferred until the German delegates arrived. . . _ \ M. Flandm’s view, which Mr R. A. Eden endorsed, says the Daily telegraph was that this would be conceding Germany too much. Eventually the five States, Argentina Chile, Denmark, Poland and Australia, voted 101 an adjournment. Italy abstained, and the other eight voted against an adjournment. Consequently the Council will resume its debate this afternoon whether Herr Von Ribbentrop arrives intime to attend or not. OFFER BY VATICAN. INTERMEDIARY IN DISPUTE. BERLIN, March 17. The Papal Nuncio, Monsignor Orsenigo, called at the Foreign Office and offered the Vatican’s aid as an intermediary in the Rhineland dispute. This offer is deemed unlikely to be accepted after the publication of the article in the Osservatore Romano, condemning Herr Hitler’s methods. The Vatican organ Osservatore Romano strongly condemned Germany’s treaty-breaking, saying: “Whatever reasons. Germany may have had for occupying the Rhineland, she ought to have had recoruse to the League as stipulated in the Locarno Treaty. International justice is by no means perfect, but this is no justification for recourse to force and breaking up treaties.”