France’s Desire For Amity

Northern Advocate, 9 March 1936, Page 5

France’s Desire For Amity

STATEMENT BY FOREIGN MINISTER [United Press Association.-By Electric Telegraph. — Copyright .l (Received 10 a.m.) LONDON, March 8. Herr Hitler’s, denunciation of Locarno produced immediate repercussions in every capital in Europe. In Paris, M, Flandin, Foreign Minister, made a statement to the Press, in which he said the Government in the Chamber of Deputies had given utterance to a desire for a FrancoGerman rapprochement, in spite of the fact that Germany, for a year, had not replied to France’s overtures, notably that of November, 1935, when the French Ambassador had asked insistently that Germany should negotiote a FrancotGerman air pact. M. ■ Flandin then revealed that the French Ambassador received instructions on February 29 to seek an urgent audience with Herr Hitler, in order to obtain a basis on which there would be a possibility of a rap.prochement. During the audience with Herr Hitler on March 2, at which Baron von Neurath, German Foreign Minister, was present, ‘the reply was given that the question was coming up for the German Government’s consideration, in view of definite , proposals, which soon would be possible. Germany asked, in order to facilitate the negotiations, that the French Ambassador’s visit should be kept secret, to which France accjeded. >s Franco-Soviet Pact.

Baron von Neurath today, continued M. Flandin, received the memorandum in which Germany repudiated Locarno and announced its intention of immediately acting upon it. Nevertheless, the treaty, stipulated that it ought to remain in foroe until the Council of the League of Nations had given a contrary decision.

M. Flandin added that Germany’s interpretation of the Franco-Soviet Pact was entirely inaccurate, especially when she declared it to be incompatible with Locarno. Germany paid no attention to the justifications France had been furnishing for nearly a year, which had received the support of the other signatories to the Locarno Treaty,

However much Germany felt aggrieved her Government ought—if diplomatic channels appeared to be insufficient—to have submitted its grievances to the procedure of conciliation and arbitration subscribed by Locarno.

Reply To Request.

When the French Ambassador was handed the German Note, said M. Flandin, he asked whether it constituted a reply to his request of March 2. He was told that the' document contained that reply. Accordingly Franco-German reconciliation was to have as its basis a unilateral denunciation of the freely concluded treaty the authors of which had set themselves the task of preparing such a reconciliation. Moreover, it was to be accompanied by the acceptance of un fait accompli. The French Government had carefully examined the German Note, and, without prejudice to other measures, had made contact with the other signatories of the treaty, with a view to common opposition to the repudia-' tion of Locarno. France was faithful to the treaty, and had decided to bring the question before the Council of the League.