Germans Participate In London Talks

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 71, 25 March 1936, Page 5

Germans Participate In London Talks

SHADY ITALIAN BARGAINING LONDON, March 23. The Times’ Berlin correspondent states that it is officially announced that Herr von Ribbcntrop will fly to London on Tuesday. No information is available regarding the reply he carries to the Locarno Powers, but it is stated that he will use the material at his disposal as the opportunity offers, suggesting that ho will be given a fairly free hand in the negotiations, which will be presumably based on the White Paper. Herr Hitler, Herr von Eibbentrop, and Baron von Neurath discussed the position all day. It is believed thu Foreign Ministry favours a conciliatory "reply which, although rejecting many important points, contains proposals which can be the basis of negotiation. It is believed this view prevailed in view of the attitude of English public opinion, whereas a brusque rejection would have automatically brought the Locarno Powers into a defensive military alliance.

Mr G. Ward Price, cabling the Daily Mail from Berlin, says Germany’s answer can be summed up in the phrase, ‘‘equality of treatment for Germany,” including international police, if similar measures are applied to the French side of the frontier. Italian Bargaining Mr Vernon Bartlett, in the News* Chronicle, is of the opinion that there is a 100 to 1 chance against the establishment of international police in the Rhineland. He declares that Italia* acceptance of the plan accompanied shady bargaining, although this was not evident during the Committee of Thirteen’s meeting. Every member was aware that Italy wants to postpone the negotiations for peace for three weeks or longer, believing that with the assistance of poison gas and similar pressure the Abyssinians will be induced to accept terms. The Italians are attempting to persuade the French that sanctions should

be abolished in return for Signor Mussolini’s promise to negotiate with Abyssinia and support the Locarno proposals against Germany, but there is good reason for believing that Mi R. A. Eden will not agree to the suspension of sanctions on the mere promise that Italy will begin negotiations or apply the collective system to Germany whilo betraying it toward Italy. The Daily Mail’s diplomatic correspondent says Signor Grandi has been instructed to demand the raising of sanctions before a discussion on peace terms-