No Immediate Danger of War

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 62, 15 March 1938, Page 7

No Immediate Danger of War

Britain Holding Aloof GUARANTEES TO CZECHS? LONDON, March 13. The Australian Associated. Press says: ‘‘There is no immmediafce danger of a European war. There is little prospect at the moment, even if the tension does not relax, that the British Empire will be dragged into the present turmoil. This would appear to be the situation as seen by Cabinet. All Britain’s energies will be directed at keeping the British Empire aloof. Communications between the Prime Minister, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, and the Dominions have been passing almost every hour. ‘‘The most that can be expected in the immediate future,” the agency adds, “jis that apprehension and disgust will die down, as they did after the Rhineland march, and that the Austrian coup will be widely if reluctantly accepted, if only because no alternative remains. “It is realised that Herr Hitler plunged towards sure success in the certain knowledge that England and France were determined not to raise a finger in Central Europe. “Germany is seen as the ever-grow-ing menace strengthening herself in readiness to challenge the Western democracies. Herr Hitler’s so-called pledges and guarantees are regarded as worthless. Not a single factor of common agreement between England and Germany now remains. All Britain’s efforts will be concentrated on extending and speeding up re-armament without delay, regardless of cost. Britain has been compelled to place herself in readiness to meet force with force.’* “Herr Hitler’s assurance to Czechoslovakia that Germany has no hostile designs against her are treated here in the light of the official German Government statements of March 11, when every report of German activities and troop movements was categorically denied. Cabinet Ministers are dismayed by the German Govervnmeut attitude to the Press, while the Austrian invasion actually occurred. They consider that Herr Hitler inspired deliberate and systematic falsehood to stifle real news without and within Germany. “The assertions by Herr Hitler and Marshal Goering that the Austrians rose against oppression, that Germany did not initiato the coup, and that the Austrians were outraged over the plebiscite and sent an ultimatum to Dr. von Schuschnigg to go have provoked the strongest possible official condemnation from Whitehall. It is stated that ‘these assertions have no foundation in fact. The British Government is satisfied that the ultimatum came from Berlin and that the whole move had been engineered from there.’ “Whitehall further dismisses as preposterous Herr Hitler’s assertion that he sent troops purely to keep order. It is asked, ‘lf this is so, why dispatch to Vienna 200 aeroplanes landing troops at the rate of 50 per hour in addition to continuously pouring in infantry, artillery and motorised divisions?’ ‘‘Any discussion regarding colonies with Germany is now completely ruled out, and if Herr Hitler desires colonies he must decide on how to attain them and face a world determined to hold what it possesses.” Mr. Michael Palairet, British Minister in Vienna, has been instructed to return to London to report on the Austrian situation. A Paris message says that Madame Taboms affirms that the British Government has given Prance excellent assurances regarding Czechoslovakia. The . British Foreign Minister Viscount Halifax, at the Foreign Office, saw M. Corbin, tile French Ambassador, and M.’Masaryk, the Czech Minister, who left together earnestly conferring. The German Foreign Minister, Herr von Bibbentrop, has left London for Berlin by air. On leaving Croydon he said: “I expect I shall be visiting your aerodrome many times again.” Meanwhile, according to a Prague message, the German Minister, Herr Eisenlohn, told the Czech Prime Minister, Dr. Hodza, that Germany entertained no hostile or coercive intentions towards Czechoslovakia.