WHITE PAPER OFFENDS GERMANY

Northern Advocate, 23 March 1936, Page 5

WHITE PAPER OFFENDS GERMANY

SETTIENENT PLAN SAID TO HAVE AGGRAVATED SITUATION

(Received 10 a.m.)

A MESSAGE FROM BERLIN A STATES THAT HERR HITLER AND THE FOREIGN MINISTER, BARON VON NEURATH, CONSIDERED THE WHITE PAPER TODAY, BUT REACHED NO DECISION UPON IT.

A high official in the German Foreign Office says the White Paper has considerably aggravated the situation. He says its wording is strongly reminiscent of the jargon of the Versailles Treaty, yet it is» claimed as the basis for a new order. Moreover, “take it or leave it’’ is not the right method. Another official stated that, at first sight, not one of the proposals was acceptable. Herr von Ribbentrop, who left London, saying he was returning to Berlin in a definitely hopeful spirit, on his arrival in Berlin by air immediately began a conference with Herr Hitler and Ministers. It is thought that Germany will take her own time to reply, as the White Paper is very complicated and requires careful consideration.

The general impression is that Herr Hitler’s personal reaction to the White Paper has taken the form of considerable indignation, which is shared by all associated with him. An Unpleasant Shock.

The “Observer’s” Berlin correspondent says it is believed that Herr Hitler will ask experts to extract points from the White Paper regarded as discriminating against Germany, after which he will accept the remainder. German counter -proposals are not expected, as. Ilerr Hitler fre-. quently ’.has. state.# his seven-point ’ programme contains his final peace offer, from. which he will not depart .

It is admitted that the White Paper was an unpleasant shock 'to Gertnany. Mr Eden has been accused of capitulating to French imperialism. The Berlin correspondent of the :say| that the German reply will be an uncompromising negative, as the White Paper has made the worst possible impression on public opinion.

Nevertheless, Dr. Schacht, Minister of Economics, with the Conservative element and the army leaders, is urging that the memorandum should be most carefully examined. Dr, Schacht desires Germany to return to Geneva, otherwise she cannot obtain necessary foreign loans. Will Germany Accept?

There are no great hopes that Germany will accept the Powers’ proposals, in view of the German con-> demnation of the international police plans and the reference to the Hague Court. Mr Eden intimated to Herr von Ribbentrop that he would be at his disposal during the week-end to discuss suggestions. He emphasised that France and Belgium had scaled down their original standpoints so greatly that it! was impossible to expect further concessions.

HITLER’S REPLY EXPECTED TO BE UNCOMPROMISING NEGATIVE

LONDON, March 22,

Herr von Ribbentrop is reported to have been impressed by this fact.; Accordingly, it is hoped in some quarters that Germany, ,in the event of her rejection of the proposals, will make constructive proposals of her own.

The diplomatic correspondent of “The Times” expresses the opinion that in view of the French • and Belgian concessions there is little chance of success if Germany remains stationary, but France might co-operate in finding a solution regarding the international police, even accepting them in French territory. A Different Aspect.

The “Daily Telegraph,” however, points out that while France and Belgium previously hailed the proposals that British and Italian troops should be sent to both sides of the frontier as a symbol of the readiness of the Powers to carry put their Locarno obligations, M. Flandin’s declaration in the Chamber has introduced a different aspect.

The “Daily Mail’s” diplomatic correspondent says the Germans completely reject the White Paper as discriminating against Germany and involving a limitation of German sovereignty. Thus the crisis again is acute, although Germany may make counter-proposals. Herr von Ribbentrop was instructed by telephone to fly back to Berlin immediately to confer with Herr Hitler regarding the reply to the British White Paper. There was a more hopeful atmosphere among the German delegates in London this morning. While the rejection of the plan for an international police f<|>rce ip certain, the Germans are confident that a compromise can be achieved.

Observers explain that the contrast between the cheerfulness of the Germans in London and the ,bitter indignation of the _ . German Press is due to the ex--, igencies of Nazi propaganda for the forthcoming election. The idea is to keep German feeling at boiling point, to enable Herr Hitler to play the role of a peacemaker, prepared to make a last supreme gesture of .conciliation when the negotiations seem to point to failure.

The “Manchester Guardian’s” diplomatic correspondent states that by far the most important feature of the White Paper is that the proposals for mutual assistance to create a new relationship between Britain, France, Belgiupi and Italy are intended to be permanent whether Germany joins or not. Britain’s Reinforced Security. The relationships would be reciprocal, inasmuch as Britain and Italy would receive assistance if they were victims of unprovoked aggression The security of Britain, for which the Locarno Treaty did not provide, is thus reinforced in a most powerful manner.

The “Daily Telegraph’s” diplomatic correspondent lays stress on the fact that the proposals provide for a system stronger than Locarno. He says the liaison between the British Government and the Dominions was never closer than during the present critical times. Criticism of the . White Paper from Germany has led official circles to emphasise that it does not propose, “a take it or leave it spirit.” On the contrary, counterproposals are invited and will be carefully considered.

The Sunday prior to the German elections was devoted to demonstrations, parades, music, songs and slogans, every Nazi mobilising in order to take part in the propaganda in Herr Hitler’s campaign. The Fuehrer’s latest speech at Breslau disclosed nothing new. He did not refer to the White Paper, No Blank Refusal.

It is generally assumed that the German Government will not meet the White Paper proposals with a blank refusal, and thus the part of the plan which deals with arrangements for the interim period until a new settlement in the west'is achieved contains proposals for holding the situation. It is understood, however, that if the German objections to the unilateral zone are found to be the sole obstacle to agreement, alternative German proposals would readily be considered. It is felt that it is ndt possible to proceed with the long range policy envisaged in the Four Power programme unless adequate provisions for preserving confidence during the interim period are adopted by Germany no less than by the other Governments concerned. In regard to the decision to invite the German Government to lay its case against the Franco-Soviet Pact before the International Court of Justice at the Hague, without prejudice to the operations of the paragraph which provides for negotiations, with German participation, for the revis-. ion of the status in the Rhineland,

this is understood to mean that the reference to the court is not an indiscernible condition of negotiations for a Rhineland settlement. League Meeting On Monday. The next meeting of the League of Nations Council, at which the text of the Four Power agreement will be before the members, was fixed for Monday. It is stated that the probable procedure will be to refer to a committee with a rapporteur, to examine the various proposals it contains. Unless developments are considered to have rendered such a course inadvisable, there will be a debate in the House of Commons on foreign affairs, with particular reference to the Rhineland problem, on Tuesday.