LOCARNO POWERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22404, 28 April 1936, Page 11

LOCARNO POWERS

QUESTIONS FOR GERMANY SECURITY OF EUROPE Times Cable LONDON, April 26 The diplomatic correspondent of the Times says the points to be presented to Germany by the Locarno Powers include the question whether Herr Hitler will respect the independence of Austria, Danzig and Memel, and whether his demand for a revision of the League. Covenant will apply before Germany's return to the League. Herr Hitler will also be asked if he is willing to negotiate for a limitation of air forces in connection with a western air pact and whether the eastern neighbours with whom Germany is prepared to negotiate bilateral nonaggression pacts would be entitled to conclude pacts of mutual assistance. Other points include whether Herr Hitler regards the Rhineland as the last inequality for which he stecks redress; whether the proposed bilateral treaties of non-aggression fall into the framework of collective security or mutual assistance provided in the Covenant. This would increase the value of Herr Hitler's offer to the security of Central and Eastern Europe and greatly compensate France for the fortification of the Rhineland in view of the latter action diminishing her power to assist others. SWISS FRONTIER DANGER FROM GERMANY NEW DEFENCES NEEDED GENEVA, April 26 Germany's reoccupation of the demilitarised Rhineland zone has raised a difficult question for Switzerland. It is recalled that Basle before the war ■was menaced by the guns of the powerful German forts of Istein, five and a-half miles to the north, necessitating the withdrawal of the Swiss Army several miles south to the Jura Mountains, in order to oppose an advance from the north. Germany now is reported to be rebuilding and rearming the Istein forts, directly menacing Basle, also the neighbouring Rhino bridges. Hence, Switzerland will be compelled once more to modify her defences and to re-erect defences at Jura in order to prevent an army forcing its way through to Basle and advancing through Swiss territory in order to turn on the French defences at Belfort.