ANXIETY REMAINS

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

ANXIETY REMAINS

A DIFFICULT JUNCTURE. CALL FOR UNITY. ' AMONG GREAT POWERS. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) Received aMrch 19, 11.47 a.m. RUGBY, March 18. Although the immediate deadlock m the European crisis was broken yesterday and a more hopeful outlook developed when it became known, as a result of the exchanges between London and Berlin, that the German Government had decided to send a representative without delay to take part in the present proceedings or tne League Council, there are still many factors in the situation which give rise to anxiety. What is in many respects the most delicate phase of the discussions has now been reached, and the eliorts or British statesmanship in endeavouring to secure agreement on a programme which will open the possibility of securing a permanent settlement in W r estern Europe are being pursued arnestly and unremittingly. In this task it is recognised that unity among the Locarno Powers, othei than Germany, at the present stage, is essential. This unity is not to be interpreted as being directed against Germany. It is regarded as necessary solely because it is felt that unless the Locarno signatories, particularly Britain and France, are agreed on the programme of negotiations the progress towards a settlement that will include Germany must inevitably be retarded, if not defeated. It is with this overriding interest in view that the recent meetings of the Locarno Powers at present in London have been undeilakpn There were two such meetings yesterday. The latter meeting lasted two and a-lfalf hours. On the British side the Foreign Secretary and Lord Halifax wore joined in the discussions by Mr Ramsay MacDongld and Mr Neville Chamberlain - ® Another meeting of the Locarno Powers began at noon to-dav. “ The discussinons have, as is usual on such occasions, been based on the various draft memoranda submitted by the various Powers. In view _of the present fluid condition of the situation these drafts have naturally been kept private, although their broad outlines have become known. THREE STAGES. Three stages on the road to a final settlement are at present, foreseen. The first is the League Council stage, now in progress. The’second is the interim stage. The third—still some time ahead—would be the stage of formal negotiations on the British side. It is fully recognised that throughout the period preceding any final settlement Britain must uphold to the full the guarantee of the French and Belgian rrontiers which she gave at Locarno At to-day’s public session of the League Council, Mr R. A. Eden was followed by the Spanish, Italian, and Rumanian delegates. The German representative is expected to speak early in to-morrow’s proceedings. M. Flc.udin and M. Van Zeeland did not attend the Council, but continued their conversations with a view to further facilitating wider discussions at the. resumed meeting of Ministers of the four Powers fixed for to-night at 10 p.m. The ordinary weekly meeting of the British Cabinet was held to-day, but the Foreign Secretary was unable to attend. Later he was in consultation with his Cabinet colleagues, during which time his place at the Council table was taken by Lord Cranborne.

BLOW TO CONFIDENCE. The British have represented to the German Government that pending negotiations the latter should take such action in the demilitarised zone as would restore confidence among the nations, because the British wished to emphasise, and maintained, that after unilateral action of this character confidence could only be restored if each nation that had the power to do so made a constructive contribution to that end. He concluded with the declaration that the Council had an indispensable part to play, and had the right and duty to consider in all its aspects the situation, taking for guidance the provisions of the Covenant as a whole. Contributions to the restoration of international confidence, which had been severely shaken, and to the creation of security, would be required from all, and particularly the Great Powers of Western Europe. “I should like to-day to give an assurance that, in the work of reconstruction, and in particular in the organisation of security in Western Europe, Hie Majesty’s Government will play their full part. They are willing and anxious to make their contributions to these ends,” Mr Eden declared. RESTRAINT REQUIRED. Nearly 200 members of the House of Commons attended a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committee of supporters of the National Government last night, when the discussion on the European situation was continued. A variety ol views was expressed, and the meeting was agreed as to the objects to which British policy should be directed. As the discussion proceeded it became more and more agreed as to the methods to be employed. All the speakers laid stress on the importance of restraint in dealing with the present crisis, as well as on the necessity of loyally abiding by the obligations defined by the treaty. The meet-, ing was satisfied that the Government was acting on these lines.