Most Delicate Phase Reached

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 66, 19 March 1936, Page 7

Most Delicate Phase Reached

Germany Demands Footing of Equality

In Rhineland Discussions

(British Official 'Wireless.) RUGBY - , March 17. The meeting u£ the League Council this afternoon was pic--I‘cded by a meeting of the. Locarno Powers this morning, which lasted for 90 minutes, and by diplomatic exchanges between Berlin and London, which bore fruit later to-day when the German Government advised the League Secretary-General that it would send a representative to the Council. The German Foreign Minister this morning saw the British Ambassador iu Berlin and informed him that the German Government expected the British Government to do its utmost ju the circumstances of the case to bring about at the proper time a discussion with interested Powers on the German proposals for the establishment of European peace on a new basis. The Ambassador communicated with the British Government, which later replied to the German Government in the following terms: — “liis Majesty’s Government is doing, and will continue to do, its utmost to find a means of bringing down a peaceful and satisfactory settlement of the present difficulties. It is clear to his Majesty’s Government that the proposals of the Chancellor, as well as any proposals made by other parties concerned, must be discussed at the proper time. The German Government will appreciate, however, that it is not possible for his Majesty’s Government to give any more explicit undertaking at this stage.” At the end of the afternoon the League Secretariat received a reply from the German Government to the telegram sent yesterday informing it that its representative would sit on a footing of equality with other members of the Council The reply stated that the German Ambassador, Herr von RibbenIrop, would represent the German Government on the Council in examination of the question raised by the Belgian and French Governments, and that he would be available from Thursday morning onwards. "When the Council met in public this evening the President (Mr. Stanley Bruce) said lie had seen the German Ambassador in London and had urged him to expedite the arrival of the German representative in time for to-morrow’s meeting, and that the Ambassador was submitting the request to Berlin. The League Council met in private at 3.30 p.m., and later went into secret session. At a public session, which opened at u. 45 p.m., statements were made by the Turkish, Russian, and Chilean members with reference to the resolution introduced last night by the French and Belgian delegates. ■ What France Would Like. It is believed on good authority that the French policy is firm on three points. These are;— .(1) That the question of the compatibility of the Franco-Soviet Pact and Locarno be submitted to The Hague Court. In the event of a decision against Germany, that her troops should be withdrawn from the Rhineland in accordance with the Locarno Pact. (2) In the event of negotiations, that a- commission should be despatched to the frontier to see that no breaches of Locarno, or alterations of the dispositions of the forces during the discussions, occur. (3) Britain should guarantee the' inviolability of the French and Belgian frontiers on the lilies of the abortive 1919 treaty, BRITAIN PROPOSES CORRIDOR United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. Received Wednesday, 10 p.m. LONDON, March 18. According to the Daily Telegraph’s diplomatic correspondent, the most striking proposal in the British memorandum is for the permanent internationalisation of the Franco-German-Belgian frontier. It is suggested that a special zone 30 miles deep should be created on both sides of the frontier and policed by some form of international foj'cc, presumably acting on behalf of the League, which would provide a permanent symbol of the guarantee embodied in Locarno. Britain further proposes that France should maintain her existing fortifications but not improve them. Germany would be entitled to build fortifications on her side of the frontier. The Times’ diplomatic correspondent confirms that the British draft proposals for a Western European settlement provide for the 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 the territory on 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 the reference of the Franco-Soviet Pact to The Hague Court, but does not contain provisions for a western air pact or for any symbolic withdrawal of German troops. On the other hand it makes provision for British as well as French security. Need For Absolute Unity. British authoritative circles emphasise the absolute necessity in the present most delicate phase of the discussions for unity between the Locarno Powers other than Germany, but also emphasise that this unity must not be interpreted as being directed against Germany, the simple obvious fact being that without a prior agreement among the Locarno Powers there can be no real progress towards a western settlement that will include Germany.

Germany Pleased HAS HOPES OF GETTING FOREIGN LOAN Received Wednesday, 7.35 p.m. BERLIN, March 17. Political circles arc all smiles tonight at what is regarded as Hitler’s success in securing representation at the London conference. It is believed tho country will reflect the foeling at the elections with an almost 100 per cent, rote for Nazi candidates. There is also the hope that Germany’s financial difficulties at present will be relieved by a substantial foreign loan, for which it is believed the way was already prepared by an exchange of visits between German and English bankers.

Tho German delegation to the League Council meeting will total about thirty and will include, besides von Ribbentrop, licrr Diockhoff, head of the political department of the Foreign Office, who spent several years in the London Embassy after the war.

Defence of Soviet Pact FORCEFUL TALK BY RUSSIAN SPOKESMAN RUGBY, March IC. M. Litvinoff made a long speech, is the course oil which he defended the Franco-Soviet Pact as being in coiv fortuity with the Covenant and the Locarno Treaty, and recalled that the British and Italian Governments to interpreted it. But Germany, he averred, peremptorily declared that France. Great Britain, Belgium aud Italy had interpreted it incorrectly, and that the only correct interpretation was her own. The Russian member concluded: '‘We stand for international agreement which would not only consolidate tho existing foundations of peace, but, if possible, would likewise create new foundations. We stand for the participation in such agreement of all countries which so desire, but wo object to the idea that withdrawal from tho League or brutal infringement of international treaties should confer upon a State the privilege of dicta!?

ing to the whole of Europe its eonditionf.”

“The manner wherein Herr Hitler allows himself to speak publicly of the State I represent liberates me from the necessity of resorting to circumlocution and diplomatic niceties.” This was M. Litvinoff’s explanation of his own frankness. He said the whole of Herr Hitler’s statements and proposals amounted to' an organised campaign against the peoples of the Soviet and the formation of a coalition against them of the whole of Europe and the whole world. “His aggression may aim at other States in the immediate future. His attacks against the Soviet may merely be a smoke-screen for aggression which is being prepared against other States, but tho fact that he selects the Soviet Union as a target for his incessant attacks gives me the right to speak openly,” M. Litvinoff’ added.

“The Soviet is even more interested than others in the maintenance of peace, but also against hasty decisions dictated by fear rather than realities. The League cannot bo preserved if it does not execute its own decisions, but, on tho contrary, accustoms tho aggressor to ignore its recommendations, admonitions and warnings. Such a League would become a laughing stock and may even become harmful, lulling the vigilance of tho nations.

“Tho whole world knows that neither France nor tho Soviet, will make anj claims to German territory. There is no idea of encircling Germany. Hitler’s peace pact proposals give me the impression that we are faced with an attempt to divide Europe in two or more parts with the object of guaranteeing uon-aggressiou for one part in order to acquire a free hand for dealing with the other part. Such a system of pacts can only iucrcase the security of au aggressor, not the security of peace-loving nations. Certain people forget that Locarno was a pact of non-aggression—-not for 25 years but for au indefinite period. Hitler wants to retain for Germany all the Locarno benefits while depriving Franco aud Belgium of their guarantees thereunder,” the Russian leader concluded.

Troops Will Remain. GENERAL GOERING TOURS RHINELAND. Received Wednesday, 7.35 p.m. COLOGNE, Mar. .17. “Our troops aro in the Rhineland and will remain there. Wo will talk peace with others but what w-e do at home does not concern others,” declared General Goering from tho balcony of the town hall in his culminating speech tour of tho Rhineland in which ho received a tremendous ovation. Tho tour started at Assmannshausen, whence the General travelled by steamer to Coblentz, tho banks being lined with people. Thirty thousand waited hours to greet him at Cologne. Goering to-night spoke at' Dorthund advising European statesmen to take a week-end trip to the Rhineland instead of haggling in London. Goering declared: “It is possible to write ‘Germany may not havo troops in the Rhineland’ but it means the whole frontier will be undefended. At the back of it is the unspeakable horror of murder, fire and death. How many people are behind M. Only those support him who incite men to war. Foreigners think that if we are dependent on foreign raw materials they have their hand at our throat but the stronger their pressure the stronger wo shall be. Germany cannot bo forced down by sanctions. He who wants to attack Germany must pay for every mile of German soil with countless killed. Tho Russians live under the whips of Stalin as formerly under the whips of the Tsar. The Bolsheviks are doing their host to see Hitler’s offer is not accepted. An appeal must be made to commonsense.”