EUROPEAN AFFAIRS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIX, 30 January 1936, Page 7

EUROPEAN AFFAIRS

FRANCE ANXIOUS TO EASE TENSION SIMILAR DESIRE EXPRESSED BY GERMANY COURTESY CALLS ON BRITISH FOREIGN MINISTER (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 30th January, 1.20 p.m.) LONDON, 28th January. The “Sun-Herald” says tiiat following the precedent at King Edward Vll’s funeral, visiting monarchs, Prime Ministers, and foreign ministers paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary. In some cases talks were apparently more significant, particularly M. Flandin’s and Mr. Eden’s, which was in the nature of a survey of the European situation. The “Sun-Herald” understands that M. Flandin was apprehensive lest Germany reoccupy the empty barracks within the demilitarised zone, and sought Britain’s view in such an eventuality. Mr Eden replied that if Germany entered the zone even without crossing the international frontier it would be a breach of Locarno, justifying France in invoking the Locarno Trfeaty. M. Flandin intimated that France was worried about the unsettled state of Europe and) was anxious to ease the tension. Herr von Neurath, German For. eign Minister, expressed a similar desire to Mr Eden. Consequently official quarters believe that the position may be eased. Herr von Neurath welcomed prompt assurances that Britain would not negotiate an Anglo-French air pact, Mr Eden intimating that Britain would only negotiate an English-French-Ger-man air pact. A further approach to tiiis matter is unlikely until the ItalianAbyssinian conflict is terminated: