PEACE IN EUROPE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22530, 26 March 1935, Page 9

PEACE IN EUROPE

CONFERENCE IN BERLIN BRITISH STATESMEN ARRIVE FORECAST OF GERMAN DEMANDS ,(United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) BERLIN, March 24. A company of honour of the Black G. rds presented arms as the Foreign Secretary (Sir John Simon) and the Lord Privy Seal (Captain Eden) alighted from an aeroplane on a gloomy afternoon at the Tempelhof aerodrome, over which the Union Jack and German flags were, flying.

Sir Eric Phipps (British Ambassador), Baron von Nenrath (Foreign Minister), and other diplomats welcomed the visitors, who drove to the Embassy -.i' afternoon tea. Afterwards they went to the Aldpn Hotel. The pressure of interested crowds <K people bering 5000, who attended the aerodrome, necessitated the police closing the Wilhelmstrasse.

The Sunday papers express the hope that the negotiations will result in a working basis. TALKS WITH HERR HITLER ONLY ON BRITAIN’S BEHALF ' LONDON, March 23. The British United Press Association’s Paris correspondent says it is understood that the conference agreed that Sir John Simon should talk .o Herr Hitler in the name of Britain only, thus leaving France free to take strong or moderate action before the League Council according to whether Herr Hitler is willing or otherwise to shelve or modify his military plans. ' The Supreme National Defence Council met at Elysee under President Lebrun to consider the recommendation of Germany. ThC Observer’s ' Berlin correspondent says: Any illusion that Britain’s policy cuts across Franco-Italiau policy is dispelled by Getman newspapermen in London' pointing out that Britain will only decide the final position after discussions including those at Stresa. The League will meet on April 15 to discuss the French Note. RETURN TO TRADITION THE GERMAN DECLARATION LONDON, March 24. Mr J. L. Garvin, in the Observer, emphasises that Herr Hitler’s declaration is merely a return to the German tradition and also, that, there can be no sane system agreed upon for the peace of Europe. without recognition of Germany’s absolute equality among the great Powers. . Nothing can prevent ■ Germany on , a basis of equality, head for head,; from : acquiring in a measurable time a towering predominance over France alone; indeed, with the spirit and energy of the Nazi regime it will

; ie; .hard, enough to prevent her becom,3‘.,ing .as formidable:.as .any two Powers in' Europe. The critical question is ' whether Hitler is willing bh tolerable conditions to preserve the peace of . Europe for a definite stretch of years.

FRANCE AND ITALY STRICTLY CONCERTED ACTION (British Official Wireless ) RUGBY, March 23. The ratification yesterday of the Franco-Italian agreement by an almost unanimous vote in the Ftench Chamber of Deputies is generally regarded in Britain as a happy augury for close cooperation between France and Italy, based on general identity of views of the international problem and European security. _ _ . The Daily Telegraph points out that, in place of past differences of opinion, the two Powers are now seen to be moving in strictly concerted action. It expresses confidence that to-day’s tripartite discussion will reveal that not merely two but the. three Governments of Britain, France, and Italy are in firm general accord on the things which matter. “ They are bent on ascertaining, if possible, from the German Government answers to the same questions and assurances on the same heads. Their concern is to preserve the peace by collective action of the most 1 practical kind,” says the Telegraph. The Eurojiean situation formed the subject of a speech delivered last night by Sir John Simon at a political meeting near Leeds. Sir John emphasised that it was no service to the cause of peace for anybody to represent that there was in Britain some cleavage of opinion or purpose in regard to the peace issue. The House of Commons on Thursday night was given a very striking exhibition of the unity of spirit which prevailed on that matter. There was"no place in the world where criticism could be so .keen: yet that night saw the whole of the House of Commons, representative of the whole country, serving the big interests of the country.and the world towards the suppression of minor temptations. It was not because it was imposed upon them by some dictator, but because there was something better in freedom than all those other creeds —freedom shown by a people who had self-control at a critical moment.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS SUPERIORITY OVER GERMANY BERLIN, March 25. (Received March 26, at 11.20 p.m.) It is reported that France and Italy gave Captain Eden certain minimum requirements on security in armaments and a demand for a certain amount of military superiority over Germany. A CLOSE WATCH INTEREST OF UNITED STATES (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 23. It is reported from Washington that Mr Cordell Hull stated that the United States Government was closely follow in- developments in the European situation. He said that the United States had always asserted that treaties must constitute the foundation for any stable peace structure, and that they would alwavs use their influence to encourage a strict adherence to treaty provisions. All who believed in the peaceful settlement of international problems felt an increasing concern at the general tendencies of the nations to fail to adhere to the letter and spirit of treaty engagements.

COMMENT ON SITUATION GERMANY’S WARY ATTITUDE LONDON, March 24. (Received March 25, at 5,5 p.m.) The Daily Mail’s Berlin correspondent, Mr Ward Price, says: “ Russia is the rock in the path of Sir John Simon’s mission. Germany would probably enter a triangular air agreement, but must consider her aerial defence on the eastern as well as the western frontier. Sir John Simon will not find her as -willing to reduce her army as reciprocally to limit her air force, but an eastern Locarno will find the least support of all. The Germans cannot understand why Britain should allow France to drag her at Russia’s heels.” The Times, in a leader, expresses the hope that nothing will be done at Berlin which will give Stresa the appearance of an anti-German conclave. If Herr Hitler can persuade the world that his enlarged army is really designed to give him equality of status and equality of negotiation with other nations instead of trained for aggression, Europe may really face an era in which changes can be made without force. The Rome correspondent of The Times says: “Italy’s military preparations and the tone of Signor Mussolini’s speech demonstrate a rude shaking of his faith in the maintenance of peace. Moreover, it is the more aggressive phrases of his utterances to which the newspapers devote headlines, illustrated by troops brandishing bayonets. Other straws indicating the direction of the wind are Germany refraining to enter the summer horse show in which she has been conspicuously successful in recent years and the German journalist UI -ann being expelled from Italy.” The Daily Telegraph’s Berlin correspondent reports: “As Sir John Simon descended from the aeroplane Herr Hitler’s personal bodyguard, sent specially to meet the British Ministers, fixed bayonets and presented arms. The officer in command smartly saluted with a flashing sword so close that Sir John Simon appeared surprised. An officer on the parade ground delivered a short speech of welcome on behalf of the bodyguard. The martial reception emphasised the military character of the mission. Six of Germany’s new bombers stood at the aerodrome. The German press to-day devotes many columns to a personal appreciation of Sir John Simon and Captain Eden. They are assured of a warm welcome in Germany, but the comment in general on the past and present policy of the former Allied nations remains critical. For instance, the Boersen Zeitung in an article illustrative of the German outlook on Monday’s conversations says: ‘We Germans have "become unusually wary and quickeared for false tones underlying pleasant words and apparently harmless proposals.' ” The Daily Telegraph’s diplomatic correspondent from Berlin says: “The firm conviction exists here that Britain is more likely than any other country to see the German problem as it presents itself to the German mind.” GERMANY’S DESIRES * NAVAL EQUALITY WITH FRANCE LONDON, March 25. (Received March 25, at 11.20 p.m.) The Daily Express says that Herr Hitler will propose a return of the colonies, including Tanganyika, SouthWest Africa, and Samoa, an increase in the Gorman Navy to equality with France, and the intervention of the Powers to end the “ intolerable oppression ” of Germans in Memel under the Lithuanians. Herr Hitler will also propose a German-British pact, which Sir John Simon will refuse and instead urge an. arrangement for . the pacification of the quarrelling nations. Herr von Papen arrived from Vienna to see Herr Hitler before Sir John Simon arrived and told Herr Hitler that there would be no peace in Austria unless there was a plebiscite. The great majority of the Austrians were against the Government. Unless something was done there, would be another explosion like that of 1934. Other Berlin messages suggest that the defence law enforcing conscription will be deferred until Sir John Simon has left. It is expected to affect 18 classes of conscripts between 1901 and 1915, the earliest classes receiving about two months’ training. The Minister of Defence (General von Blomberg) is working out a scheme for the support of the families of married conscripts.' CONSEQUENCES OF DECREE SIGNOR MUSSOLINI’S FEARS i i LONDON, March 24. (Received March 2.5, at 7.5 p.m.) The Daily Telegraph’s Rome correspondent says: “ Signor Mussolini’s reference to millions of bayonets was by no means a figure of speech. 'On a conservative estimate he can put upwards of 900,000 men under arms at short notice.” It is reported that Signor Mussolini’s action is inspired by fears that the recent development will offer a new threat to Austrian independence, and the further development of German conscription. The Polish Ambassador protested to Baron von Nenrath against the decree and informed him of Poland’s views upon it. DANGERS OF WAR POPE TO ISSUE ENCYCLICAL LONDON, March 24. (Received March 25, at 7.5 p.m.) The British United Press correspondent at Vatican City learns that the Pope on- April 28 will issue a world " peace encyclical ” warning the nations of the dangers of war and condemning the violation of pacts. RECOVERY OF COLONIES ONE OF GERMANY’S AIMS LONDON, March 25. (Received March 25, at 9.30 p.m.) The News-Chronicle's Berlin correspondent states: “Germany’s first political aim is the absorption of Austria, and the last, but by no means the least, is the recovery of her lost colonies or the acquisition of others. The press refers to the colonies in a most guarded manner, but the subject is on the lips of every politician.”