GERMAN ASPIRATIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19903, 24 September 1926, Page 9

GERMAN ASPIRATIONS

AN EARLY DECLARATION. RETURN OF LOST AREAS. SPEECH BY BE. STRESEMANN. (Fnis Awoolation—By Telegraph—Copyright.) GENEVA, September 22. Alluding to the colonial question at a reception by the German colony, Dr Stresemann drew attention to the loyalty that the natives had shown, to Germany, declaring that it proved that she was perfectly fit to govern colonial territories. It might now be said with all confidence that Germany had the same right to possess colonies as any other people. Dr Stresemann added that Germany s solemn admission to the League was equivalent to the withdrawal of the war guilt accusations by the nations participating iu the League. He said the German Government’s principal aims were: First, the restoration of German sovereignty in German territory; and, secondly, the recognition of the right of self-determination of all peoples. Germany did not desire merely a reduction of the Allied troops in the Rhineland by a few thousands. She claimed that any occupation was incompatible with the principle of absolute equality among the members of the League. It was impossible long to continue the occupation of the Saar when the inhabitants wished Jhe return to German jurisdiction. Dr Streseman’s speech created a stir, bu he contends that he said nothing sensational. He pointed out that he and M. Briand bad discussed the whole question of the evacuation of the Rhineland the restoration of the Saar. He explained that his allusion to self-determination only related to a possible plebiscite in the Saar. He repudiated the Italian interpretation that he was hinting that Austria and the Italian Tyrol might attach themselves to Germany. M. Briand and himself did not envisage a fresh redistribution of European territory. He considered that the progress recently made towards a Franco-German rapprochement was greater .than ho had ever hoped. He saw In this the presage of general European pacification. It Stresemann said he would himselt represent Germany at future meetings of the League Assembly and Council. A. and N.Z. Cable. FRENCH OPINION ROUSED. THE NEED FOR WATCHFULNESS. ‘ PARIS, September 22. “If he had wanted to wreck the negotiations he could not have acted more effectively,” says the Journal des Debats in commenting on what it describes as Dr Stresemann’s extrordinary speech. The paper adds: “The Treaty of Versailles, although envisaging Germany’s entry into the League of Nations, solemnly affirms Germany’s war guilt, which entry into the League in Ho way affects. The speech Is a timely warning;, reminding us that serious precautions must be taken before we go too far in the negotiations with a Government which believes that the ex-Kaiser is not guilty.”—A. and N.Z. Cable. ■ , *