NAZI THREAT TO EUROPEAN PEACE

Northern Advocate, 3 February 1936, Page 4

NAZI THREAT TO EUROPEAN PEACE

(United Press Association.-tsy Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.} (Received 10 a.m.)

LONDON, February 1

Although Baron von Neurath, German Foreign Minister, when he saw Mr Anthony Eden, British Foreign Secretary, on January 30, made reassuring references to the existence of the Locarno Treaty, it is now learned that he did not give any specific assurance that Germany would respect the Rhineland demilitarised zone.

The Paris correspondent of “The Times” says this attitude is taken to mean that the demilitarised Rhineland zone will be the price of any eventual settlement between Germany and the Western Powers, but that Germany might take matters into her own hands if Locarno were disturbed.

Reports from Brussels state that the remilitarisation of the Rhineland is already an accomplished fact. “Le Soir’s” military expert, M. Tasaier, asserts that Germany has poured 250.000 well-trained men into the zone, including ,150,000 Storm Troopers and 40.000 mechanised troops, also members of the Air Force and of the labour service.

The writer says that three new strategical bridges have been built across the Rhine, making a total of 25 up-to-date bridges between Emmerich and Coblenz, while 15 new roads link the Rhineland with Belgian territory. Anxiety in Belgium is great, says M. Tasaier, especially as the German Minister of War has forbidden the press to mention the Rhineland problem, which now is being carefully examined in London, Paris and Brussels.