LOCARNO PACT DENOUNCED

Northern Advocate, 9 March 1936, Page 5

LOCARNO PACT DENOUNCED

READY TO SIGN NEW AGREEMENT

(United Press Associatlon.-By Electric

Telegraph. — Copyright. ] (Received 10 a.m.) LONDON, March 7

The Berlin correspondent of “The Times” states, that before the sitting of the Reichstag,, the British, French and Italian Ambassadors had called individually on Herr Hitler and received from him his memorandum.

In this Herr Hitler denounced the Locarno Treaty on account of the Franco-Soviet Pact. He declared that Germany regarded herself as free from the stipulations regarding the demilitarised Rhineland zone.

The Note to the Powers, which Herr Hitler subsequently read in the Reichstag, said: “In order to avoid a misinterpretation of Germany’s intentions, and her purely defensive reoccupation of the Rhineland, Germany is ready to negotiate a new agreement for the establishment of a system of European guarantees of peace.

“(1) Germany is ready to negotiate immediately with Belgium a mutual demilitarised zone and to agree to such a proposal in every aspect under the conditions of complete parity. “(2) Germany proposes, in order to secure the inviolability of the Western frontiers, to conclude a non-aggression pact for 25 years between Germany, France and Belgium. “(3) Germany invites Britain and Italy to sign the treaty as guarantors. “(4) Holland may join if she wishes, and other Powers if they consider it opportune. “(5) Germany is ready to conclude an air pact with the Westerp Powers suitable for automatically and effectively preventing the danger of a sudden attack.

“(6) Germany repeats her offer of non-aggression pacts with countries along her eastern frontier lines, and a Polish non-aggression pact. This offer includes Lithuania, in view of her recent changed attitude on the Memel question. “(7) Now that Germany’s final equality and the Reich’s complete sovereignty have been brought about, the Government regards the chief cause of its resignation from the League as removed. Therefore it is willing to re-enter the League. The Note added: “Germany expects the colonial question to be settled within a reasonable time through friendly negotiations. If all these matters are agreed upon, Germany is prepared to return to the League, but the Covenant must be separated from the Versailles Treaty.