30-DAY TRUCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23426, 16 August 1939, Page 11

30-DAY TRUCE

TALKS PROPOSED BRITAIN AND FRANCE DANZIG QUESTION TERMS FOR POLAND DANGERS STEESSED / By Telegraph^—Press Association—Copyright. (Received August 13, 0.15 p.m.) LONDON, Aag. 15 The Gerfaan nnd Italian Embas-' gies to the Holy See are reported to have «ent identical communications to the Papal Secretary of State, Cardinal Luigi Maglione, Cottle taining preliminary suggestions for the peaceful settlement of European

problems. The Romo correspondent of the Times says it is understood tho Axis Powers express in the communications their fear that the "war-mongering activities,, of their

-.-opponents/' especially Poland, which is \ being "egged on by the democi-acies," are leading to a rapid deterioration of the European situation. / Alleged Oppression j"' They then cite attacks upon and oppression of Germans in Poland and pressure allegedly being applied to Italians in France and Tunisia, as two factors likely to create a position which Germany and Italy will be unable to r support much longer. The Axis Powers then suggest: : ; {1) A '3O-day truce in order to Organise a conference of the British, French, German and Italian Foreign Ministers. ;(2) That Britain should guarantee to transmit to Poland a solution of Danzig question reached by mutual agreement among the Foreign Ministers; and because the British , guarantee to Poland includes the fact that Poland is to be the judge whether the "casus belli" clause should function in the event of her independence being L threatened, Britain should also ask whether Poland considers that the solution threatens her independence. A negative reply to this would signify acceptance. Examine Other Questions (3) Once this question—considered dangerous ito all in of the Anglo-Polish guarantee, which is the only one leaving the guaranteed nation as arbiter ,of the "casus belli"—is removed, the truce can be extended to enable the Foreign Ministers to examine other questions. Acceptance of the Axis Powers' proposals should slacken the tension in favour of a peaceful solution. Polish circles regard stories oi: the • formulatiop of the Ciano-Bibbentrop plan, of which the above may be the outcome, as/mere kite-flying, inasmuch as Poland firmly adheres to the terms L- of Colonel Beck's speecli of last May. Official circles in Warsaw deny knowledge of a compromise plan. The Italian Foreign Minister, Count Ciano, conferred with Signor Mussolini last night. The Rome press continues to express satisfaction with the Salzburg talks, stressing that Danzig was , the keynote, but it hints that a large part of the /'discussions was devoted to the Italian claims against France. / —j CHANCES REMOTE

- MORE "APPEASEMENT" ? ' // ITALO-G ERMAN PLANS RUMANIA AND HUNGARY ! (Received August 15, 11."20 p.m.) / LONDON. Auk. 15 The Manchester Guardian says "There is no confirmation available in London of the suggested German oompromise plan, although thd*report.s are readily credited because of the belief that 'appeasement' is in the air. Iho " it, however, seems more ft'niote than ever. "There is complete agreement bc,t\veen Italy' and Germany, who have apparently accepted a general plan of Action designed to eliminate Poland and subjugate Rumania. No attempt is toadc to conceal these objectives. "German military exports' arguments that a campaign against Poland would long and arduous are overruled, as i the Nazi leaders believe it would bo a short war and the assistance of the Western Powers, if it came at all, would __ conic too lato. "Hungary is also marked down. There i* no reason to suppose the Hungarians C£| n do anything whatever to avoid their fate. , "Whitehall takes the gravest view the situation, but does not believe : the European crisis will necessarily leach ' a climax «in the immediate iuture."