LOCARNO POWERS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 12 March 1936, Page 7

LOCARNO POWERS

FIRM ATTITUDE BY FRANCE COMING LONDON MEETING (Received 12th March, 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, Uth March. It is understood that the French took a very firm lino at the Paris conference of Locarno Powers. Though there is good reason to believe that the British delegates left the Paris meeting with an increased realisation of the serious issues created by the German action, “The Times” emphasises that it must not be supposed that the French monopolised proceedings. France’s juridical position is undoubtedly unassailable, and a telling point was made by M. Van Zeeland, Premier of Belgium, when he pointed out that although Belgium had not given Germany even the flimsy excuse of a pact with Russia, the former demilitarised zone opposite the Belgian frontier had also been reoccupied. Nevertheless, the British delegates, while re-emphasising the British Government’s grave concern at the German action, also re-emphasis-ed the British view that every effort should bo made to find some constructive way out of the present impasse, if only because tlie alternative seemed to be an indeterminate period of dangerous tension and uncertainty. M. Flandin’s reply was that no agreement with tlie present rulers would, in the French view, give any better result. The Belgian delegates are believed to have taken an intermediate view.

The Rome correspondent of “The Times” says that the Italian attitude is unlikely to differ very materially from Britain’s.

The Berlin correspondent of “The Times" says that Germany considers the decision to hold the League Council meeting in London is the result of British efforts to take the dispute out of the atmosphere of Paris and Geneva in the hope that it may be given more impartial consideration in London This, it is held, indicates that Britain is taking the lead in the matter of raising German hopes of a satisfactory outcome. It is not known whether Germany will attend the Council meeting, but it is believed that the move to, London is also an attempt to make sure of her presence. The correspondent adds that the German public lias been given only a one-sided view of British reactions, the greatest prominence being given every friendly sentiment expressed in Parliament and the Press while criticism is slurred over and even suppressed. Everything which can be construed as criticism of France is given prominence in heavy type in German newspapers, which do not even mention the propriety of violating treaties.

General Von Blomberc Defence Minister, in a speech at Berlin, agreed that war should not be used as an instrument of policy, and warned his young hearers against the illusion that war was a bright and jolly affair.

STRANGE METHOD

OF VINDICATING HER HONOUR DISHONOURING FREELY NEGOTIATED TREATY (British Official Wireless) (Received 12th March, 11.20 a.m.) RUGBY, 11th March. At yesterday’s conversations in Paris by the Locarno powers the French representatives are understood to have pointed out that Germany had made her sudden symbolic military incursion into the Rhineland at the moment when France had actually asked for, and was awaiting Germany’s promised suggestions for a basis of negotiations following upon Herr Hitler’s statement regarding Germany’s desire for peace made in an interview with a French newspaper. Emphasis is also laid on the point that Germany had chosen a strange method of vindicating her honour by dishonouring a freely-nego-tiated treaty as a preliminary to offering to negotiate another, and that such methods could only create deep alarm and indignation in France. Tlie Belgian Prime Minister made the point that so far as his country was concerned, Germany had not even the thin excuse of a pact with Russia to justify reoccupation of the former demilitarised zone opposite the Belgian frontiers. From a juridical viewpoint also, M. Flandin was enabled to present a convincing case, and the points he made as to the dangers inherent if the practice of unilateral treaty-breaking were to be allowed to costinue, needed no emphasis.

SITUATION MORE SERIOUS

VIEWS OF MR EDEN CLOSEST ANGLO-FRENCH CO-OPERATION URGED (United Press Association—By Electric Telegrapn—Copyright* (Received 12th March, 12.35 p.m.) LONDON, 11th March. The “Sun-Herald” understands that Mr Eden intimated at a Special Cabinet meeting that the situation was much more serious than at the week-end.

It is gathered that Mr Eden pressed strongly for the closest Anglo-French cooperation, and that he is of opinion that the French are in a more reasonable mood than at, any time since the war. It is nol certain, however, how Cabinet will eventually regard Mr Eden’s case, because the majority of the Cabient, besides press and public opinion, continues to lean towards Germany. Vital decisions regarding Britain’s policy are unlikely pending the Locarno Signatories’ and the League Council meetings. Mr Eden believes if Germany would withdraw troops excepting sufficient lo constitute a “token” of occupation, France would readily negotiate. The British delegates returned immensely impressed by the position of the Belgians, who are so alarmed by developments that they are ready to follow France in any action, even hostilities, though the Belgians oppose war as vigorously as the French.

One result of the Paris conversations is that the British believe if the League decides that Locarno was violated, Britain is pledged to co-operate in any assistance France and Belgium seek. This is interpreted to mean that if Hitler refused to remove troops from the Rhineland and France and Belgium decided to endeavour to force them out, Britain is pledged to assist.

RESOLUTE STAND URGED

TO SAVE EUROPE FROM AGGRESSIVE WAR

VIEWS OF SOVIET GOVERNMENT

. (Received 12th March, 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, 10th March. The Soviet Ambassador, M. Maisky, called on Viscount Cranbourne, Foreign Under-Secretary, at the House of Commons, and explained that the Soviet could not regard the German denunciation of the Locarno Treaty as an isolated action. The illegal occupation of the Rhineland was but a link in a chain of

aggressive acts. Condonation of this latest treaty-breaking would result disastrously by encouraging further breaches and placing a premium on aggression. Europe could be saved from an aggressive war only if a resolute stand was made now, but it would be too late to check Herr Hitler in the next emergency. The Soviet strongly opposed exploratory conversations with Germany. The League Council should take the most resolute action, which Russia would fully support. ACTIVITIES ON FRENCH FRONTIERS The “Daily Mail’s” Forbach correspondent describes active French measures to fortify the Franco-German frontier against aerial invasion. Bombing ’planes and observation balloons maintain watch, while anti-aircraft batteries are manned in readiness for eventualities. Horsemen and bicycle patrols scour country lanes and lorries are rushing stores and equipment to the Maginot Line. A warning has been issued that shells will be fired if German aeroplanes trespass over French territory. Tlie “Daily Telegraph’s” Mannheim correspondent says that plans are being prepared for the fortification of the Rhineland. Tanks and heavy artillery are being sent to Mannheim, where a military base is already established in preparation for completing a central stronghold. No air base will be established within 40 miles from the frontier, outside which limit Mannheim lies. Twenty-five thousand troops will garrison the southern Rhineland as the main standing army. MILITARY TATTOO CANCELLED NO EXPLANATION GIVEN (Received 12th March, 1.20 p.m.) BERLIN, 11th March. The military tattoo celebrating the anniversary of tlte reintroduction Df conscription in Germany was cancelled without explanation.

BRITISH MINISTERS IMPRESSED

REPORTS OF FRENCH GENERAL STAFF, RHINELAND COVERING GROUND FOR TROOP CONCENTRATION (Received 12th March, 9.20 a.m.) PARIS. 11th March. Mr Anthony Eden i British Foreign Secretary and Lord Halifax, Lord Privy Seal, are reported to be most impressed with reports of the French General Staff showing that the Rhineland has been transformed into a covering zone for German concentration. Several German aeroplanes flew over French territory, obliging French units to intercept them and force them back over German territory. French newspapers stress the wisdom of the League Council meeting in London. Grave leading articles exhort Frenchmen to remain calm and confident, which, indeed, is the prevailing mood in Paris.

SANCTIONS AGAINST GERMANY

OPPOSED BY ITALY (Received 12th March, 12.35 p.m.) ROME, 11th, March. Breaking the silence regarding Germany’s denunciation of the Locarno Treaty, the Italian spokesman somewhat naively observes that Italians would not sympathise with the application of sanctions against Germany, adding: “We Italians are anti-sanctionists. Bv nature we oppose sanctions in principle, because we regard them as futile, also because they liit the weakest portion of a nation.”

NO FURTHER INFORMATION

QUESTIONS IN THE COMMONS (British Official Wireless! (Received 12th March, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, Uth March. No further information was given in reply to questions in Parliament, on the subject of the position created by the events of 7th March. Questioners being referred to Mr Eden’s statement on Monday.

LEAGUE OF NATIONS COUNCIL

TO MEET AT ST. JAMES’S PALACE (British Official Wireless) (Received ifitli March, 11.20 a.m.) RUGBY, lltli March. Mr Anthony Eden and Lord Halifax returned to London this evening and attended a special meeting of Cabinet to consider the situation in the light of the Paris conversations. Meanwhile arrangements are proceeding for holding a meeting in London on Saturday of the Council of the League of Nations. The meeting will take place at St. James’s Palace. COST TO GOVERNMENT (Received 12th March, 12.35 p.m.) LONDON, 12th March. Mr Stanley Bruce returned to London to-night in readiness, tp preside at the League Council. M. Avenol, Secretary-General, and sixty other members of the League staff are coming to London for the meeting, which will occupy a week. The cosi to the British Government will be about £SOOO. Meanwhile the Locarno Powers wall meet in the old Cabinet room at the Foreign Office, adjoining the Locarno robin, where the treaty was signed.

GERMANS IN CANADA

CONSCRIPTION ORDERED BY CONSUL QUESTION IN THE COMMONS (Received 12th March, 1.45 p.m.) OTTAWA, 11th March. The Prime Minister, Mr MacKenzie King, told the House of Commons'thathe will investigate the statement by Mr J. S. Woodsworth, Commonwealth Party leader, that the German Consul exceeded his rights in issuing an order to-day calling for conscription of Germans in Canada.

The order states that all German nationals in Canada and Newfoundland born in 1914 or the next two years must report by the end of March at the latest, failure to report being punishable.

Mr Woodsworth emphasised that no foreign powers has the right to enlist troops in Canada.