RHINE ZONE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22388, 7 April 1936, Page 11

RHINE ZONE

FRENCH .DEMAND \ // MINISTERS' DECISION action by the league applying agbeement ' POWERS' NEXT MEETING By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (l\cc?ived April 6, G. 55 p.m.) PARIS. April G It is understood that the French Prime Minister, M. Sarraut, the Foreign Minister, M. Flandin, and the Minister of State, M. Paul Boncour, conferred with their Expert ad visers, after which they decided that in view of the unsatisfactory nature of the German reply to the White Paper proposals, M. Flandin should demand when the Locarnb Powers meet at Geneva, probably on Thursday, the immediate application of all , the provisions of the agreement of March 19, regarding both precautionary measures and measures by the Locarno signatories, and action by the League. The White Paper proposed to create an international force, including British and Italian detachments, to occupy a zone extending 12 miles east of the Franco-Belgian frontiers; and to constitute an international commission to supervise the carrying out of the obligations of the Powers sponsoring the force, also the obligations of the French. Belgian and German Governments in respect to the frontier. The agreement made the following provisions in event of the failure of negotiations: (1) Consultation over the new situation. (2) Assistance in accordance with the Treaty of Locarno in respect of any measures which shall be jointly decided upon. (3) The taking of measures for ensuring security against unprovoked ag- - pression in return for reciprocal assurances. The establishment and eontinuat'on of contact between the General Staffs. to) The co-operation of the League Council to secure the formulation of all useful recommendations for the maintenance of peace and respect for international law.

GENERAL STAFF TALKS GERMAN PRESS ATTITUDE . "NEXT WORD WITH FRANCE" (Received April 6. 5.5 p.m.) BERLIN. April 5 Although the attempt to draw a distinction between British Government and public opinion regarding the German proposals and the General Staff talks continues unabated, the newspapers also emphasise that the next word lies with France, whom they attempt to persuade that the best policy is.to accept the German proposals as a oasis for negotiation, promising that any counter-proposals will be seriously .considered. MR. EDEN FIRM t "BRITISHCCONTRIBUTIOnN n CRITICISM OF GERMANY British Wireless RUGBY, April 5 It is revealed that in an interview / with Mr. Eden, Heir von Ribbentrop suggested that the General Staff talks must be seriously prejudicial if they took place before the conclusion of new security pacts. Mr. Eden reminded Herr von Ribbentrop that the talks were the British Government's contribution to restore confidence and were all the more necessary ' since ; the German Government seemed unwilling to make any substantial contribution for the interim period. GERMAN PROPOSALS ELUCIDATION SOUGHT POWERS' EXCHANGE OF VIEWS British Wireless RUGBY, April 5 Several members of the German delegation, including Dr. Dieckhoff, of the German Foreign Office, left London on Saturday for Berlin, but Herr von Ribbentrop, with other members of his staff. will remain in England for a few days longer. Requests for the elucidation of certain passages in the German Note of April 1 have been addressed to Herr -Von Ribbentrop by Mr. Eden. They lire said to cover a \vfue field.

LABOUR SUGGESTION CONFERENCE OF NATIONS SUPPORT IN PARLIAMENT British Wireless RUGBY, April 5 The suggestion made by Major C. R. Attloe, leader of the Labour Opposition, that other League Powers, as p-ell as the Locarno signatories, should be brought into a conference on the iituation resulting from the events of March 7, and later on the German proposals, met with a considerable tneastire of support in Parliament. The newspapers state that in Moninv's debate Sir Austen Chamberlain «nd Mr. Winston Churchill, among pther members, will raise the point. HOPES FOR AGREEMENT ATTRACTIVE PROPOSALS SIR THOMAS INSKIP'S VIEWS . i ) British Wireless RUGBY, April 5 Speaking at Portsmouth on Saturday night, Sir Thomas Inskip, Minister for Co-ordination of Defence, said there frere a great many things in the German proposals which were attractive and much which ho hoped could be R'elded to a real measure of agreement between the nations. However, ho was bound to say that. Germany could be a little more helpful than she had been up to the present in we process of conciliation.