EUROPEAN CRISIS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 31 March 1936, Page 5

EUROPEAN CRISIS

STAFF CONVERSATIONS A NEW FACTOR GERMAN VIEW OF SITUATION LONDON, OOtli March. Mr Ward Price, cabling to the “Daily Mail” from Berlin, says that Herr Hitler’s entourage regard the FrancoBritisli staff conversations as a new factor destroying essential equality as joint military action would be being prepared against one party when peace negotiations were beginning. It adds that the stall talks would sharpen German suspicions. France was converting her existing defensive organisation into a system adapted for an attack in tlie coming summer. According to the diplomatic correspondent of the “Sunday Time.?,” Herr Von Ribbentrop suggested to Mr Eden that it would be better if the discussions between the French, British and Belgian general staffs, were postponed because they were causing concern in Berlin.

Mr Eden firmly replied that the conversations must proceed, as they represented a decision by the Powers as distinct from the proposal to Germany. Ministerial circles in London point out that tlie contact between tlie staffs will be purely temporary, and limited to the fulfilling of the clauses in tlie White Paper, which provides that the German breach has not freed tlio signatories from their liabilities. If the negotiations are successful, the German staff no doubt will participate in the conversations necessitated by mutual assurance pacts. FOUR-POWER PROPOSALS DATE FOR CONVERSATIONS NOT YET FIXED (British Official Wireless) (Received 31st March, 11.45 a.m.) RUGBY, 30th March. A meeting of Ministers was held this morning, at which, besides the Prime Minister (Mr Stanley Baldwin), Mr Neville Cliainberlaili, Lord Hailsham, Lord Eyres-Monsell, Lord Swinton, Lord Halifax, Mr Eden, and Sir Thomas Inskip were present. Contrary to newspaper reports that the meeting would - be concerned with approval of the proposed technical conversations with tlie general staffs of Powers still adhering to the Locarno Treaty aiid guarantees thereunder, it is pointed out in official quarters that Cabinet approval of these talks was involved in the decision of the Government to accept the proposal drawn up at the recent Four Power Conferences.

it is understood that no date for the beginning of conversations has yet been fixed, and tliis question may conic before Cabinet on Wednesday. Meantime consideration is being given to the conditions under which tlie talks will be held, and it is assumed that this was one of tl»e subjects upon which the French Ambassador spoke with the Foreign Secretary. In agreeing to conversations between tlie staffs in connection with their reaffirmation of the Locarno obligations, the Government, it is recalled liy political commentators, had before them the example of similar technical exchanges in which the French Government recently agreed, at their request, to participate in connection with' the possibility of unprovoked aggression in tlie Mediterranean, and in accordance with Article XVI Paragraph 3, UF the League Covenant. -- -C---BRITISH COMMITMENTS ANXIETY HARDLY WARRANTED LONDON, 2915 March. Major-General Temperley, in the “Daily Telegarph,” discussing the fear of Parliament and the Press that tlie British, French and _ Belgian general staff talks may commit Britain beforehand to a military alliance, says that the anxiety is hardly warranted. The British representatives will certainly receive most precise instructions from the Government regarding the limited nature of the conversations and their exclusively technical character. GERMAN AIRMEN PUNISHED FLYING OVER FRENCH TERRITORY PARIS, 29th March. The Air Attache at Berlin has informed tlie French Government that the pilots of two machines which flew over Strasbourg last week have been sentenced to two years in a concentration camp by order of General Goering, Minister of Air. Future offenders Will he charged With treason. The pilots, an instructor and pupil from a training school, were en route to Wurzburg, but were well off tlieir course, and flew over Strasbourg at a height of 150 feet, exciting the population. PLANE OVER HOLLAND AMSTERDAM, 28th March. A German aeroplane flew over Yenloo, and is reported to have photographed the barracks.

PRAYERS FOR STATESMEN HERR HITLER INCLUDED SERVICE AT ST. PAUL’S LONDON, 29th March. The Dean of St. Paul’s, Dr W. R. Matthews, included Herr Hitler in prayers at to-night's service as among those who bore the burdens of making great national decisions. °He explained afterwards that the prayer was intended as a reply to the Liverpool clergy’s action. A cable dated 24th March stated that a mild storm had arisen through the Dean of Liverpool Cathedral omitting on the previous Saturday night the usual prayer for Cabinet guidance on the ground that the proposal to send British troops to the Rhineland was monstrous and unjustifiable. The Bishop, the Rt. Rev." A. A. David, explained that he was not consulted. He agreed with the main idea of a protest., but stated that it was nht happily expressed. OUTSPOKEN SPEECH FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER QUESTIONS FOR HITLER (Received 30th March, 12.25 p.m.) PARTS, 29th March. “France is willing to discuss peace with Germany if a solid basis of discussion is created,” declared M. Flandin, Foreign Minister, speaking at ■Vezelay... He added: “We are no less resolved to establish a durable peace than to denounce tricks and manoeuvres menacing peace

and preparing for new wars. What will bo the value of any treaty if Germany reserves the right to repudiate it;,,,., iu the name of the moral and vitalrights of her people ? What will be her A attitude regarding any treaty she signs:' if she does not recognise an independent and impartial judge? What judgewill she accept Hitler must explain what is meant by the vital necessity, for Germany to obtain full equality of rights. If Germany claims the right" to possess and exploit colonies,., to - . which colonies does she refer? Does she demand an important colonial empire and at •whose expense will she constitute it? It is significant that at the moment that Hitler appeals foxpease Nazi propaganda, is redoubled in Austria, Dan ish-Schleswig, Silesia, Czechoslovakia, and Switzerland. Has he in order to prepare for 25 years’ peace remilitarised and fortified the demilitarised zone? The, German conception of international life, is force! That of the remainder of the world is the conception of right. France is convinced that mutual assistance is obligatory and immediate, and in the event of unprovoket aggression, is the surest preventative of was.” SWISS DEFENCES £16,000,000 ASKED FOR (Received 31st March, 9.35 aim.) BERNE, 30th March. Parliament has been asked to vote £16,000,001) to increase Swiss defences. NOTHING SERIOUS GOING TO HAPPEN

VIEWS OF GERMAN CONSULAR OFFICER (By Telegraph—Press Association) WELLINGTON, 30th March, The opinion that the occupation of the Rhineland is no more significant than the reintroduction of conscription in Germany a year ago was expressed by Herr E. von Dziegielewski, an officer of the German consular service, who arrived hv the Maunganui en route to Sydney, where he will he stationed. Although lie only knew of developments in the Rhineland from the cable news, he is satisfied that nothing serious is going to happen.