GERMANY’S CLAIMS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 30 March 1938, Page 9

GERMANY’S CLAIMS

TALKS WITH BRITAIN SOME NOT ACCEPTABLE LONDON, 20th March. The German Foreign Minister, Herr von Ribbentrop, advanced a five-point claim for Germany in his conversations with the Foreign Secretary, Viscount Halifax, three of which Britain could not accept. The German points wore : (1) A two-sided press pact, preventing unfavourable British comment. I (2) A British undertaking to make no ! attempt to weaken or divert the Romej Berlin axis. | (3) The return of colonies as a matter : of right, apart from general appeasement ! with the suggestion that Germany would . be satisfied with African colonies as compensation for her former Pacific colonies. (4) A free hand in central and south-eas-tern Europe, with a specially sympathetic British attitude toward Nazi “safeguarding of rights” to Germans outside Germany. (5) A free hand against Bolshevism wherever it is found. Britain’s attitude to the Gi-man demands is:— (1) The British Government could not tolerate interference with the freedom of the press at the dictation of any country Never was a proclamation of Britain’s continued freedom more important. Government control of the press was repugnant to British traditions. (2) This point does not present difficulties except in the most unlikely event of the Anglo Italian talks bringing results unpalatable to Hitler. (3) It is suggested that this point might be conceded in spite of previous declarations that the colonial question is inseparable from general appeasement. (4) While Britain is presumably sympathetic toward German minorities, she might find a blanket assurance of a free hand most difficult in view of Anglo-French co-operation and Mr Chamberlain’s reaffirmation of Mr Eden’s statement that Britain cannot disinterest herself in Central Europe. (5) Thi s point is altogether too sweeping. It. is quite conceivable that the Nazis might declare that the French Government, including Socialists and Communists, is Bolshevik, just as they say the Spanish Government is. Ihe whole ground was covered more than once without bringing appreciably nearer the formal negotiations for which the British Ambassador in Berlin, Sir Nevjle Henderson, appealed immediately after he was appointed.