“Unnecessary And Theatrical”

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 273, 18 November 1936, Page 6

“Unnecessary And Theatrical”

GERMAN REPUDIATION REGRETTED. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Nov. .16. It is expected that the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Anthony Eden, -will make a fctatement in the House of Commons this aitevnoon regarding Germany's repudiation of the 1 clauses of the V ersailles Treaty internationalising the Rhine, Elbe, Danube, Oder, Niemen, and Moselle rivers. The German Koto to this effect was presented at the Foreign Office in Lunuun at liiid-day on Saturday and to tno several other Governments concerned at about the same time. The substance of the communication was under examination during tho week-end. .Newspapers state that although the Koto has not caused much anxiety or surprise, the method of denunciation is regretted. The Times says; “Each fresh announcement of the kind makes inoic difficult the tusk of those who are endeavouring to promote international co-operation and the settlement of outstanding questions by mutual good will." Tho Times iinds it difficult i‘o believe that Germany has achieved anything that was unattainable by more regular methods, ft agrees that Germany had legitimate objections to the system of international control of waterways, but points out that the agreement on the subject, largely based on proposals she had herself put forward, was reached m, April and was to have become effective in six weeks' time —on January f. All the Powers concerned had agreed to its terms with the exception ot Holland, whose consent also had within the last few days been, deiinitely promised. In these circumstances the Times considers the German action "unnecessary and theatrical." Conduct of Intamational Relations Hindered LONDON, Nov. 16. Replying to a question by the leader jf the Opposition, Mr. (J. R. Attlee, in the House of Commons regarding the German denunciation of the waterways provisions of the Versailles Treaty, tlie Foreign (Secretary, Mr. Anthony Eden, recalled Herr Hitler’s statement of May 21, ,1235, regarding the remaining articles of the Versailles Treaty, including, it was understood, those relating to waterways that the German Government would only carry out by peaceable understanding such revision ns was inevitable in the course of time. Mr. Eden added that Germany's action protracted considerably the success of negotiations which had been progressing lor many years with a view to reconciling German desirata with other Powers.

The British Government therefore regretted that Germany had again abandoned negotiation for unilateral action, not because British trading interests v, ere jeopardised, but because Germany's action would render more difficult the conduct of international relations.