GERMANY’S CHANCES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 109, 8 April 1936, Page 9

GERMANY’S CHANCES

FOR DIPLOMATIC ACTION. DISCLOSURES BY BRITAIN. FRENCH PLAN’S LIKELY FATE. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received April 8, 10.5 a.m. LONDON, April 7. A 90-page White Paper is being issued to-morrow disclosing the opportunities that Britain has offered Germany during the last few months ftfr the settling of her grievances diplomatically instead of by a fait accompli. Paris reports that the French reply to Herr Hitler’s plan is being issued to the Press to-morrow night. At Geneva, League circles consider that, whatever the merits of the reported brench plan, there is little chance of its acceptance at the moment, as the danger of new commitments is too great to allow of a dispassionate discussion. FOREIGN POLICY. VOTE OF CONFIDENCE. MR EDEN REITERATIVE. , LONDON, April 6. When foreign affairs were debated in the House of Commons this evening, along with 1 other matters, the House carried a vote of confidence in the Government by 361 to 145. The Foreign Secretary (Mr R. A. Eden), referring to the Italo-Abyssin-ian trouble, declared: “The position of the Government remains exactly the same as it lias been throughout the dispute. We are prepared to take part in economic and financial measures in so far as others accept them and carry them out in the same spirit as ourselves.”

Turning to the situation in Europe, tlie Foreign Secretary sa.id the examination ot the German memorandum of April 1 in progress. An opportunity for an exchange of views with the French and Belgian Governments had arisen in connection with the meeting on Wednesday of the League Committee of Thirteen, for which he was leaving to-morrow afternoon. He had welcomed it while doubting the value at the moment of more formal proceedings in accordance with suggestions which had reached him from Paris and Brussels, and in any case he had thought it wise to make clear in advance that the British Government could not agree that conciliation was at an end. ' Mr E<len remarked on the desirability of bringing the League into these discussions at the first opportunity. It was essential, in the Government’s view, that many of the proposals which were under discussion should be co-ordinated within the framework of the League, but he uttered a warning against the idea of setting aside the task which confronted them as a result of the violation of the Locarno Treaty and .trying to negotiate some wide scheme of general settlement for Europe. “I am very doubtful whether it is possible or desirable at this moment to negotiate general obligations of mutual assistance all over Europe going outside the terms of the Covenant,” he said. “We all of us have general commitments under the Covenant which we must all of us make it plain we are prepared to fulfil. We are ecpially at liberty to reinforce the Covenant in given circumstances by regional agreements.” By unduly widening their aim they might lose their immediate objective. Mr Eden concluded that, despite the difficulties of the present time, the League had grown through all these years since its inception in strength, and 'its roots had struck deep, that was why it was imperative that everything they did should be founded on the Covenant. He hoped they would not lightly seek to amend it until they were sure everybody in Europe was ready and willing to fulfil existing obligations under it. He could say for the British Government that it was prepared to fulfil those obligations. RHINELAND ACTION. DISCUSSIONS TO BE OPENED. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 6. The opportunity afforded by the presence at Geneva this week for the sitting of the Committee oi Thirteen of the British Foreign the French Foreign Minic/rer, and the Bel; gian representative will be taken for conversations on developments arising out of the remilitarisation of the Rhineland, the recent meetings in London, and the German Government’s memorandum of April 1. Press messages from Pans indicate that the French counter-proposals will also be available for discussion. It is assumed that M. 1 landm will be present as the French representative and that M. Van Zeeland, the Belgian Prime Minister, and a representative of Italy will attend. The Daily Telegraph’s diplomatic correspondent anticipates that the British Government’s efforts will oe directed to finding, with Irance and Belgium, a means of opening discussions with Germany on European se curity as a whole.^ THE STAFF TALKS. (British Official Wireless.) Received April 8, 11.40 a.m. RUGBY, April 7. The Secretary for War (Mr A. DuffCooper) , in an answer in the House ol Commons regarding the staff conversations, which will begin in London on April 15, said they would be conducted solely through the Director of Military Operations and Intelligence, Major-General J. G. Dill.