FRANCE AND BRITAIN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 26 March 1936, Page 7

FRANCE AND BRITAIN

SERIOUS TURNINRELATIONS M FLANDIN REFUSES FURTHER DISCUSSION SITUATION VERY DELICATE (United Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, 25th March. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Paris correspondent says that M. Flandin, French Foreign Minister, has officially informed the British Government that he will refuse to reconsider the Locarno Powers’ proposals, and will not return to London to discuss the German counterproposals. The ’’News-Chronicle’s” Paris Correspondent says: “It is no exaggeration to say that a serious turn has been reached in the relations between France and Britain.”

The “Daily Mail’s” Paris correspondent says that M. Flandin was interviewed. and criticised Britain for assuming the role of mediator and attempting to settle the differences between France and Germany. He said: “It was a matter of far more significance, involving the existence of the League. If, in a case where she was defending everyone’s rights, France was forced to make an isolated stand, could the Fra neo-British entente survive the crisis?”

The “Daily Telegraph’s” diplomatic correspondent says that Mr Eden will confer with M. Paul-Boncour, and will also see Herr von Ribbentrop, who is not permitted to reach precise conclusions, and will return "to Berlin before the elections to see Herr Hitler on 30th March. Meanwhile, the Fulmer lias postponed all hut election business. The “News-Chronicle’s” Paris correspondent says: “Pears that Britain is leading France into further concessions to Germany are responsible for a fierce Press barrage against all: negotiations with Germany, which lias broken out under governmental inspiration.

The French public would be profoundly shocked if France left the League, but it would be unwise in the Government’s present frame of mind to dismiss such an outcome as impossible. The Governm°nt’s atU*«de can be summed up as “We are bidding good-bye to the Versailles Treaty, we are ready to attend a new international peace conference, but unless Germany shows goodwill beforehand, what guarantee have we that the new basis of peace thus established 'will be permanent? Unless Germany makes such a gesture we cannot negotiate with her.” The delicacy of the present situation cannot be exaggerated. France may be likened to a frightened woman, who, if treated roughly, may resort to hysterical acts, but, if managed gently, can be led to reason.

The following comments are typical:] The “Journal des Debats” says that the British appear to have lost all political sense. They tremble before Germany, They can think: only of appeasing her devouring appetite, which naturally grows all the greater. BELG lAN'S DECLARATION At Brussels, M. Jaspar, former Premier and Minister without portfolio, told the Chamber that there was no question of modifying the White Paper, from which nothing could be subtracted. If the decisions were now regarded oiilv as a basis of negotiation, Belgium would he deeply disappointed.

INTERIM STATEMENT

INDEFINITE ATTITUDE OF GERMANY WISH TO MAKE FURTHER PROPOSALS (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, 2-1 tli March. The German envoy, Herr von Ribbentrop. who returned to London from Berlin by air to-day, called at the Foreign Office this evening and remain- . ed for more than an hour. He saw the Foreign Secretary (Mr Anthony Eden)

who was accompanied by Lord Cranborne. Ixird Halifax was also present during the latter part of the conversation. Herr von Ribbentrop brought with him an interim statement by the German Government in reply to the proposals of the other four Locarno Powers. This statement, which was issued for publication by the Germans to-night, leaves indefinite tlife attitude of the German Government to the invitations embodied in the Four-Power proposals, and clearly formulates a wisii to make further proposals of its own. It is indicated that in view of the preoccupation of the elections the German Government will not he in a position to communicate these proposals, which it appears may he of a comprehensive character, at least for another week. It is expected that Herr von Ribbon - trop xvill stay in London for some days before returning to Berlin, and that lie may again visit London at a later date. 110 lias arranged to call again to-morrow on the Foreign Secretary, who will also he seeing M. Paul-Boncour, French Ambassador, before the latter leaves for Paris,

TERMS OF EQUALITY DEMANDED LONDON, 24th March. As Germany’s reply to the Locarno Powers Ilcrr von Ribbentrop to-day handed to Mr Anthony Eden, British Foreign Secretary, an interim statement in which Germany announces that she will define her attitude in detail and make positive proposals to Britain on 31st March, after the German elections. She declines to negotiate except on terms of equality. Although the reply does not specifically refuse to withdraw troops it declares that the White Paper lacks all presuppositions -for successfully reorganising a true and lasting peace. Germany, therefore, must reject all provisions calculated again to defame her honour or question her equality. It explains that, following the conviction that the Franco-Soviet Pact invalidated the Locarno Pact. Germany decided to restore finally full sovereignty for the entire Reich territory. She had not ordered troops into the Rhineland for the sake of action but because they were required to create a preliminary condition under which she would he in a position to join an agreement for a clear and reasonable peace. Every attempt to base the reorganisation of Europe on the old methods of a hateful division of nations into privileged and unprivileged, respect and defeated, commanding and obedient, must result in a new order which would be no improvement on the old. Only treaties accepted willingly by equals can receive lasting and sacred respect. ' The reply adds: For the victor the dictate appears to contain a legal tie, but the vanquished will always regard it as illegal oppression. Herr von Ribbentrop is being sent orally to clarify the situation.

PROBLEM OF THE MOMENT

AGREED BASIS FOR NEGOTIATING BRITISH PRESS CRITICISM (British Official Wireless) (Received 20th March, 11.35 a.m.) RUGBY, 25th March. The interim reply of the German Government to' the proposals of the other four Locarno Powers states that though compelled to reject the proposals in all points which affect her honour and equal rights, the German •Government feel they must comply with the British Government’s suggestions by presenting new proposals. The “Daily Herald” says the problem of the moment is to find an agreed basis for negotiating. As the German Government finds that which has been put forward by the four Locarno Powers unacceptable it is up to them to produce not grandiose schemes for the future, but practical proposals for the present. The interim reply gives no indication that Herr Hitler has as yet even grasped the nature of the problem. if Hitler wishes for a new deal, he must act so as to restore confidence, not so as to increase suspicion. The “Daily Mail” says the terms of the German reply offer no reason why negotiations should not proceed in an effort to reconcile various points of

view. The “News-Chronicle” (Liberal) declares that if France is assuming that Germany’s refusal to accept the terms offered her without qualification, and her own refusal to consider modifying them, will assure her automatically of a military alliance with Great Britain, which' has always been her secret aspiration, she is deceiving herself again. The “Yorkshire Post” (Conservative)

! can detect no sign in the reply that either Hitler or a well-dragooned Germany understands that the German action lias shattered confidence in Europe, so that no matter what prodigious pacts or treaties Hitler may propose they can procure no effect in promoting a sense of security. i

PROPOSALS TO BE REPEATED

•IN CLEARER AND MORE EMPHATIC FORM HITLER'S BERLIN SPEECH BERLIN, 2.3 th March. Herr Hitler, in a speech at Berlin, said that on 31st March he would repeat his proposals of 7th March in an even clearer and more emphatic fotni. He would show the world what was possible and what they were prepared to do, just as to-day he had told them what was impossible and 'what they would never do.

THE VERSAILLES SPIRIT

WILL RE TOLERATED NO LONGER LONDON, 2.3 th March. Herr von Ribbentrop, in an exclusive statement to the “Daily Mail/’ declared that Germany rejected the Locarno Powers’ proposals because they represented a. lamentable lapse into the mentality which had already imposed so much suffering on Germany.

“This mentality,” lie said, “regards it as a basic principle that the nations of Europe should he divided into conquerors and conquered. I can assure you that Germany will no longer tolerate this Versailles spirit. She will submit no longer to any discrimination between Germany and others.” He added that Herr Hitler’s constructive proposals of 7th March were substantial proof that Germany really desired the consolidation of peace and co-operation between peoples. He could not indicate the character or scope of Herr Hitler’s promised new proposals, but they would be inspired by the same spirit.

“AN INSULT” DOUBTING GERMANY’S GOOD FAITH SI-'EECII BY lIITLER (Received 26th March, 10.25 a.m.l BERLIN, 25in March. “Our opponents sav, ‘Can we trust his proposals.’ That is an insult,” said Hen- Hitler speaking at Ludwigshafeii, in the remilitarised zone. “I make no secret imitica and no secret military alliances. Our love of peace must not be confused with servility. They are noE real statesmen who still insist upon such odious divisions as victor and vanquished. There is no superior or inferior nation in Europe, and those who insist on such distinction should not talk about peace. Europe cannot he saved unless she gives up her old mentality. If France now wants. to send an international military force into some zone we can only ray that we have passed that zone.”

ITALY’S PRICE

FOE PARTICIPATION IN ARRANGEMENT

LIFTING OF SANCTIONS

(Received 2Gth March, 11.40 a.m.) LONDON, 25th March.

Tim “Daily Telegraph’s” Rome correspondent says that Signor Mussolini thus far has neither: approved .nor disapproved of the London proposals, but political circles are comparing the lenient treatment given Germany with the drastic action against Italy in a purely colonial affair. According to the “Daily Herald’s” diplomatic correspondent Signor Mussolini privately informed France that Italy’s price for participating in any Rhineland security agreement is the lifting of sanctions against Italy.

NATIONALS IN AUSTRALIA

TO VOTE BEYOND THREE MILE LIMIT A GERMAN' VESSEL VIRTUALLY “GERMAN SOIL” MELBOURNE. This Day. German nationals at. certain Australian ports may be taken three miles out to sea on German ships to cast their votes in the Reichstag elections. Officers of the German Consulate are endeavouring to arrange for ships carrying the Gorman flag to leave port on Sunday to take nationals out beyond the three miles limit. In a. German ship the voters will virtually be “on German soil ”