GERMANY ADMITS BLACKMAIL

Northern Advocate, 31 May 1937, Page 5

GERMANY ADMITS BLACKMAIL

' “Justified If Peace Strengthened,” Says Schacht i '.United Press Association. —By Flectrio Telegraph. — Copyright .l (Received 10 a.m.) PARIS. May 29. The German Minister of Economics, Dr. Schacht, speaking at a meeting of the Franco-German Society in Paris, said the newspapers criticised Germany because she always asked and never offered. “I agree that the poor can do little more than ask,” said Dr, Schacht, “but Germany does offer a firm guarantee of European peace, in return for a re-formed League. Also Germany is prepared to discuss armaments. £ “Germany has been accused of blackmail, for making her offer conditional upon colonial outlets. I plead guilty. It is blackmail. But peace must be strengthened, even if blackmail be used.” French Astounded.

French personalities present were astounded to hear blackmail—for the first time in history—thus proclaimed as an instrument of international i goodwill. However, it is considered that Germany is not as interested in colonies as Dr. Schacht’s speech suggests. It is thought that she is inclined to drop the subject to conciliate, Britain, though, for internal purposes, it will still be raised in orations. The tangible, result of Dr. Schacht’s visit has been the arrangement of a Franco-German trade agreement, Germany accepts France’s refusal to agree to a reduction of the interest on the Dawes and Young loans, but agrees to an extension of reciprocal trade. . . Vl