THE DEMILITARISED ZONE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22830, 14 March 1936, Page 13

THE DEMILITARISED ZONE

traffic Returns j/he tramway manager's statement of the traffic returns for the past fornighly period shows that the revenue for the period, as compared with the corresponding two weeks for the previous year, incresed by £9B. The total increase for the period,of 48 weeks from April Ito February 29, as compared with the corresponding period last .year, is £994, equal to .68 per cent. The revenue and expenditure statement for the 44 weeks ended January 29 shows a net surplus of £4383, which is £586 less than for the same period last year. Overseas Mail

Advertising New Zealand Our London correspondent writes on February B:—A tribute to the interesting displays which Occupy the New Zealand High Commissioner's windows from time to time was the inclusion of both of them in a recent film called "London Town," which has been appearing in a number of theatres in Great Britain. The film shows the various Dominion C4overnment offices, but only in the case of New Zealand were window displays included. Two excellent tourist exhibits have recently occupied the window, and as the weather has been rather dull and wet, the publicity officer has specialised in bright lighting, with the glorious sunshine of New Zealand as a special theme of the setting. Christmas Annual Appreciated The high appreciation of the journalistic and photographic qualities of the Otago Witness Christmas Annual held by people in various parts of the world is instanced in a number of communications received locally by Messrs J. K. Moouey and Co., Ltd. The head of one New York firm has registered the complaint that when the Annual arrives in his office all routine is disorganised, and requests that no further Annuals be sent — until the next issue is published. Members of English firms are equally emphatic in their appreciation of the manner in which the Annual is set out,-one writer stating that such publications are, in his opinion, produced better in New Zealand than in any other country. Theatrical Talent in Demand The demand for theatrical talent at present exceeds the supply, according to Sir Benjamin Fuller, who arrived at Wellington on Wednesday from Australia. Sir Benjamin stated that there were definite indications of a theatrical revival in Australia .and New Zealand, and that there was plenty of opportunity for gifted artists. There was no doubt, he said, that the stage could not rival the popularity of the kinema screen; the talkies were here to stay. But there was always a demand for flesh-and-blood shows incorporating originality and novelty. The modern theatre-going public was no longer content with the' old-time formula? of solos, duets, and high-kicking ballets. They wanted to see real talent, A letter from his London agent, said Sir Benjamin, indicated that there, too, the search for clever stage artists was a fulltime task. He himself considered that Australian talent was just as good as imported.

The Makura left Sydney for Wellington on Thursday with 15 bags of Australian mail and 10 parcel receptacles for Dunedin. The mail is due at the local office on Tuesday afternoon.. The air mail despatched from Dune'din on February 20 reached London on Wednesday last. Otago Ram Fair

For the ram fair to be held at Burn; side on Thursday, March 26, entries for which close to-day, there is a good listing to date. The more prominent breeds, namely, Corriedale, Romney Marsh, Border Leicester, and Southdown, will be represented, and as the entries will be drawu from the best flocks of Otago and Southland, a good sale is anticipated. Sunday Tram Revenue

An interim report by the tramway manager on the result of six months' operation of the reduced Sunday fares will be presented to the City Council on Monday night. The revenue for 26 Sundays under the reduced fare amounted to £3028, whereas the takings for the corresponding six months of the previous year were £3828, thus showing a loss in revenue of £BIO. Should the existing fares be continued for another six months, the loss, based on last year's revenue over a period of 12 months, would be increased to £ISBB. This figure would, no doubt, be greater if account is taken of the normal increase in traffic receipts for the number of Sunday passengers. In the case of the Mornington line, where no alteration was made in the Sunday fares, the revenue increased by 4.7 per cent. The report adds that, in the event of revert-, ing to the previous fare at any time, an additional £ISOO to £2OOO per annum in revenue could be expected. Under Observation Considerable amusement was caused among members of the council of the Southland Acclimatisation Society at its monthly meeting on Thursday night, when the secretary (Mr D. Cuthbertson) read the following extract from the routine report of one of the rangers:—"March 3. —I watched and listened for shooting at the Otakau. Later, I watched a car until 1 a.m. At last, discovering it to be a spooning couple, I left in haste for home."

Mr Gandhi Displaced Retired from the Indian Army, after 21 years with both cavalry and infantry regiments in that country, Major C. S. Cay arrived at Wellington on Wednesday on a golfing and fishing trip. He said that he expected to spend about seven weeks in the Dominion. Major Cay described economic and political conditions in India as greatly improved. Discussing the racial unrest there, he 6aid that Mahatma Gandhi was to-dey taking a place in the background; a new figure had risen ihat had put Mr Gandhi in the shade. This was Jawarhal Lai Nehru, a man of outstanding ability, but strongly antiBritish. He had been recently released from prison, where he had been serving a two-year sentence for sedition, because his wife was ill in Switzerland. Now he was returning to India, to take a prominent position in Congresss. The major said that since retiring from the army he had taken over the management of the Bombay Presidency Golf Club, which had a membership of about 800, including Japanese and Indians.

A Good Memory A remarkable memory feat was performed at the annual conference of delegates to the United Fire Brigades' Association by Captain T. J. Watts, secretary of the association. A break was made in the conference deliberations for the purpose of holding the annual meeting of the. Accident Assurance Society, and as not all the delegates present were to bh represented at the society meeting, a roll call of' the 143 brigades was called. "Without reference to any records, Captain Watts indicated who should remain and who should leave by saying " Stay" or "Go " as each brigade was called. Only once did the secretary make an error, and even then he made the change in the space of a split-second. Delegates were particularly interested in the feat, which Ciijjtain Watts apparently performs at every conference. . . . Picture Production Centre*

An Air Anniversary Thursday was the sixteenth anniversary of the first air mail flight from Auckland to Opotiki. The flight was arranged by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland, who chartered a Boeing seaplane for a visit to various parts of his diocese. The machine, which was piloted by Mr G. Bolt, now manager of Cook Strait Airways, left Auckland on March 12, 1920, for Opotiki, and en route a bag of mail was dropped at Port Charles, while other bags were delivered to the postmaster at Tauranga, Whakatane, and Opotiki. The return flight was begun on March 13, when mailbags for Auckland were collected at Opotiki and Whakatane. A stay of two days was made at Tauranga, and the flight was completed on March 15.

'•Although Hollwood is still the centre of the moving picture industry, it is meeting with serious opposition from the companies operating in New York and in England," said Mr W. Harrington Miller, of London, in an interview. Mr Miller said that while he was .in Hollywood he had stayed with Mr Charlie Chaplin, who was an old friend of his. There he had met Mr H. G, Wells, the distinguished •author, who was studying scenario writing in order that he might. convert those of his books which were suitable into plots for film production.

Trunk Service Aeroplane* Some further particulars are to hand concerning the machines with which Great Pacific Airways (N.Z.) propose to operate the main trunk air line for mails and passengers between Auckland and Dunedin, the point of chief interest, at a time when New Zealand is awakening to the question of air defence, being that the aeroplanes ordered, ,the Avro 652, is closely similar to the Avro 652 a, the military model, of which 174 have been ordered by the British Air Ministry for use by the Royal Air Force for bombing and reconnaissance duties round the coasts of Great Britain. The 652 is now built with an identical wing to that of the military 652 a (except for the bomb compartment), and the same under-car-riagc, engine mountings, engines, fuel and oil tanks, tail wheel, rudder, tailplane, and elevator as those incorporated m the military model, but th|! fuselage is in some respects considerably different. It is stated that the 652 can be fully converted into a 652 a model by substituting the military for the ordinary fuselage, and it is suggested that were provision made by the Great Pacific Company to have bomb compartments incorporated in the wings of their machines and the Government to maintain the required military fuselages, these could, should need arise, be quickly stibsituted for the civil fuselage and commercial machine transformed into fully-fledged military model. Apart from this fact, the high speed and other qualifications of the 652 would, it is claimed, enable it to be immediately used f°r reconnaissance work, without conversion at all. Intending members are invited to the last concert of the season of the Dnnedin Burns Club, which wMI be held in the Early Settlers' Hall on Wednesday eveninz next at 7.45 o'clock. The programme will be provided by Beee's Orchestra. The Dunedin Starr-Bowkett Building Society will'dispose of £IOOO by sale and £SOO by ballot on Wednesday evening next. In connection with the theatrical performance of the " White Horse Inn" Company at Dnnedin, the Railways Deoartment advertises in this issue particulars of special train arrangements. The Railways Department advertises, in this issue particulars of a special cheap day excursion Dnnedin to Invercargill on Sunday.' March 22. Two fast trains will be run to Invercargill, returning' the same dayThe Railways Department advertises in this issue particulars of special excursion fares and trains arrangements in connection with races at Oamaru on March 21 and 23. Altention is drawn to an error in the prices of cream flannelette sheets advertised by Mestirri A. Smith and Co.. of George street, yesterday. Through inadvertence, they are shown as the prices pel ."pair" instead of "each.'' C. W. Sundstruin, dentist. Duiiedm, will visit Omakau. Oturehua, Ranfurly on Monday, March 16; Naseby, Waipiata, l'almerstou, on Tuesday, March 17, 1030 -Advt. Now, isn't that fine? My ring cami from Williamson's, the ring specialist* where the good rings are made. |'rmee.» ■street, opposite the Savoy.—Advt. \ Frank Anderson, dental surgeon, Princes street, Dnnedin, will visit Waipiata and Patearoa, Thursday March 19; Ranfurly, March 20; Oturehua, March 23, and Omakau, March 24.—Advt. E. W. Walden, Architect, 34 Dowling street.—Advt. ' Barth Electric, Ltd., 36 George street, specialists in everything Electrical. Don't throw away that old radiator; we specialise in repairs.—Advt. Eye Strain—For Eye Comfort, foi better vision, consult Stunner and 'Vatson, Ltd., Opticians. 2 Octagon, Dun cdin.—Advt. A. E. J. Blakeley and W. E. Baglcy. dentists, Bank of Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets (next Telegraph Office). Telephone 12-359.—Advt.

Caught in Circular Saw While working in Hayward's furnishing factory yesterday marriing, Robert Sproat, a-married man, 60 years of age, living at 120 Leith street, caught his right hand in a circular saw and received severe lacerations, necessitating his icmoval to hospital.

Unjustified Criticism ''When people heard that I was coming to New Zealand they said that I would be very disappointed; that it had the worst railway system in the world; that, because of labour troubles, there would be no trains running on Sundays; that the scenery Was certainly wonderful, but that because of the lack of good roads' and the extreme discomfort of the hotels, I could not anticipate a comfortable journey here," &aid Mr H. H. Dilley, leader of the South African party of farmers which is at present visiting New Zealand. "The criticism of the country was entirely unjustified," he added. "At the present time the tourist traffic is the greatest opportunity for New Zealand. The travelling public are tired of Europe, and they will not travel in Africa during the summer because of \ the heat. But they have not heard of New Zealand." Mr Dilley gave high praise to the tourist facilities of New Zealand, and said that the hotels were extremely comfortable.

Royal Show in Christchurch The Royal Show will be held at Christchurch this year. This information was received from the Central District Council of the Royal Agricultural Society and confirmed at a meeting of the General Committee of the Canteibury Agricultural and Pastoral Association. The secretary (Mr M. E. Lyons) said the Royal Society would have a small amount of money to spend and would be able to make suggestions. Last year the Royal Society had been in a good financial position and able to pay the rail freight for any exhibitor to pay the rail freight anything over 200 miles. By helping with freight charges it was thought to encourage exhibitors from Nelson and Marlborough to show here. The running of the show, however, would lie in the hands of the local association. A recommendation to the incoming committee that the Royal Show be held on three days was carried. The Shorthorn Society of Great Briain and Ireland advised that it would present a gold, medal for competition at the yhow.

New Zealand Publicity "Great interest is being displayed in London in George Xepia the Maori footballer/' writes Mr P. L. Soljak by the last air mail from London. He and mi Irish journalist have now completed the niunuscnpt of the life story of Ncpia. and arrangements to publish it m serial from in English jind Continental papers ate being made. Records of Nepia's voice singing in Maori .songs are in demand, and a contract has been signed for his output in thie direction with a wellknown gramophone firm. Lord Uledisloe lias signed articles featuring Nepiu as shP'p farmer and footballer, while the stalwart ex-Uugbv player has signed up to captain a baseball team for the summer. In conjunction with this publicity, a campaign in the interests of New Zealand dairy products is being conducted with a view to the displacement of margarine by butter in the dietary of British troops. An effort also is being made to have butter supplied at cut rates to British Empire athletes at the Olympic Games in Berlin with a view to introducing the article in the German market. What with butter and football, .New Zealand his been well on the map in Britain, but in Mr Soljak's opinion more tourist publicity is still required to overcome existing lack of knowledge of the Dominion

REOCCUPATION BY GERMANY CLEAR VIOLATION OF TREATIES LOCARNO POWERS' DECISION A CONFERENCE COMMUNIQUE (British Official Wireless) (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) RUGBY, March 12. A communique issued after the Locarno Conference states that it was unanimously recognised that the reoccupation of the demilitarised zone by Germany constituted a clear violation of Articles 42 and 43 of the Versailles Treaty and the Treaty of Locarno.

LOCARNO POWERS WARNED BERLIN, March 12. The Deutsche Allegmeine Zcitung gives prominence to an article described as "coming from a special quarter" warning the Locarno Powers that if there is any further condemnation of Germany she will deliver her final blow at the League, as Herr Hitler will never consent to return to it. RHINELAND SOVEREIGNTY HERR HITLER'S INTENTIONS LONDON, March 12. Upon Herr Hitler's instruction Herr von Hoesch (German Ambassador) called on Mr Eden to-day and made the following reply, which Britain regards as a contribution, but far from fulfilling its hopes:— The German Government cannot enter into a discussion regarding the lasting or provisional limitation of the sovereignty of the Rhineland. Herr Hitler wishes to facilitate the French Government's acceptance of the German proposals; therefore, he reiterates his original intentions to give to the reestablishment of German sovereignty in the Rhineland only a symbolic character —namely, the strength of the troops stationed in the Rhineland will be on a peace-time basis. As already indicated to the British and French military attaches in Berlin this strength will not be increased at present, nor is it at present intended to station them nearer the Franco-Belgian frontiers. Such restriction will be observed during the negotiations. It is, however, assumed that a similar attitude will be observed by France and Belgium. Mr Eden informed the French, Belgian and Italian representatives of the negotiations with Herr von Hoesch prior to to-night's meetings. BRITISH PRESS COMMENT (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, March 12. The gravity of the crisis is fully recognised in the newspaper comment. The Daily Telegraph says: Nothing could give such a meaning and solidity to Herr Hitler's expressed desire for a long term of peace in the west as to follow up the symbolic occupation of German territory by the symbolic evacuation before any demand is made. There would be in that withdrawal more than a magnificent gesture. It would be a practical assertion of the German desire for the inauguration of a regime of European friendship, giving confidence in her adherence to any undertaking she might then sign. " We do not underrate the courage that such a reversal of policy would require on the part of the leader of the German people, but a dictatorship would be meaningless could it not on occasion rise to the height of a great opportunity." The Daily Herald appeals to Herr Hitler to make a gesture of withdrawal pending negotiation, which would immeasurably strengthen his moral position at the council table and in the eyes of the world, and it appeals to the French Prime Minister not to insist that this step be taken. " Whoever makes the gesture which clears the way for negotiation will earn the gratitude of the world. Whoever refuses will, if folly and obstinacy are to triumph, bear the blame for whatever consequences may follow." The News-Chronicle strongly urges a .Gesture by Germany, hut says this, or in its absence any action taken by the League by way of condemnation, should be regarded as only a preliminary to full and fair recognition of her claim to equality and its establishment by proper means, followed by the immediate consideration of ITerr Hitler's offer of appeasement on the widest terms of reference. COLLECTIVE SECURITY FRANCE SUPPORTS POLICY (British Official Wireless! RUGBY, March 12. On his arrival in London M. Flandin. who described himself as an old and faithful friend of Britain, said he had unhesitatingly accepted the proposal to change ihc meeting place of the representatives of the Locarno signatories, and he had every confidence in the ultimate issue of the conversations. In the present circumstances, which woe serious for future peace. Fiance upheld Dial same notion of collective security, by means of the Covennnt, which was dear to British public opinion The only public Ministerial speech in which the European crisis was mentioned was made by Lord Eustace Percy at Birmingham. He emphasised that the demilitarised zone was freely accepted by the Gorman Government in Locarno, and had been reaffirmed by Herr Hitler himself. "There still exists an clement of national pride and ambition —belief in the destiny of a nation over-riding any treaty that constitutes or goes to make up the law of nations. That is the spirit that has made wars of the past, and which if we cannot suppress it wiP make wars in future. It is essential that we should emphasise

the position in the Commonwealth of Nations that there is fi law and that that law must not be broken." Sir Austen Chamberlain, who negotiated the Locarno Pact,' speaking at Cambridge, said: "With my memory quivering at this moment with events which led up to the Great War, I am impressed by the similarity of Germany's policy to-day to the policy which rendered the Great War inevitable. If Germany had desired to challenge all Europe, if she had desired to raise once and for

all the question whether there Is any international morality of law, she could not have raised that question more completely or. in a more challenging manner than by her action in the demilitarised zone. Herr Hitler had described Germany's signing the Locarno Pact as Germany's contribution to the appeasement of Europe. That contribution had now been withdrawn without consultation or negotiation by an act of brutal force and by tearing up treaties. They had to ask themselves whether any treaty made with Germany could be more than a scrap of paper. Locarno was not a dictated peace. It was a treaty the proposals for which came from Germany, The particular provisions for the guarantee of the status quo in the West and for the observance of conditions in the demilitarised zone were the original German not even suggested by Britain.

Mr A. Duff-Cooper (Secretary for War, in a speech in presenting the Army Estimates in the House of Commons, referred to the suggestion sometimes heard that should Britain be involved again in war on the Continent it might be wise to limit her contribution to the naval and air forces. He said that while if that <'ould be decided it would be a great relief to the Army Council—in fact, there were no two opinions amongst those on whom the responsibilities for the British Army rested —they could never proceed upon any such assumption. There was no certainty that in some future conflict Britain would not have to send at very short notice a well-equipped force to take part in war on the Continent. In any case in which Britain would be involved in war on the Continent it would be in support of a policy favoured by a vast majority of the British people—namely, a policy of collective security, and if it were known that Britain's contribution would be limited solely to naval and air action it would cause considerable despondency among her partners in a collective system.

Mr Duff-Cooper continued: To the question whether a British force could be transferred to the Continent in time to be of any service to States which were victims of aggression, the Minister said there were two answers. First, if any State to whoso support Britain had to go was aware thfit a British force might be sent, it might materially influence the whole of that State's strategy ill the early days of the conflict and enable it to take a bolder line than it otherwise might. Secondly, the mobility of land forces was being increased all the time. THE GERMAN LEADER SPEECH AT KARLSRUHE LONDON, March HiA Karlsruhe message says that 70 special trains helped to amass a crowd of 100.000 at Karlsruhe, the garrison town nearest the French border, to hear TTerr Hitler's firs! campaign speech in support of his peace plan. Continuous cheering for 10 minutes necessitated (he sounding of- a bugle (o command silence. Ilerr Hitler declared that lie had endeavoured to instil reason into German relations with foreign countries. There was no reason to try lo suppress the individuality of any nation. Tie passionately appealed to the nations for mutual regard as ;i believer in the brotherhood and neighbourhood of nations. France and Germany must !><• mi an absolutely equal footing.' As the first essential there must be understanding and reconciliation. TTe would rather build a workman's hoim.' than provide the cost of a gun. Tf others thought they could hinder Germany's progress they would find the Germans ready to resist. They once solemnly signed a pact in evil times binding them to leave one frontier defenceless. So long as the other side respected that pad Germany was- ready to abide by it. but the pact had been betrayed. Germany had no intention of attacking France or Poland. Compared with the rest of the world Germany was a haven of pence. None more desired peace. She wanted nothing from other

nations and wished nothing better than to take out a patent for national Socialism. She did not desire to export it.

remilitarised zone, but the highest French estimate has been 90,000. The British Government has no grounds on which to base an estimate, but the number is generally taken to be about 00,000." The Daily Mail's Metz correspondent says: " French observers on the Maginot line report the withdrawal of large contingents of German troops which since Saturday have been close to the frontier." The Times Berlin correspondent says: " The number of Rhineland troops is regarded as small considering the large area of the territory occupied. It is true that the German Government at first intended to send still smaller detachments, but the military authorities represented it was inconvenient to send small bodies to widely separated districts, therefore it was decided not to divide the formations into smaller strengths than a battalion. The German public is fully convinced that Locarno had already been ended by French action and all that Herr Hitler has done has been to register its decease. It has been suggested in authoritative quarters that a slight alleviation of the tension might bo induced if the French and German troops nowhere approached within five kilometres of the Franco-German border. It is stated that the French fortifications arc along a strip 5 to 15 kilometres from the frontier. The arrangement would mean that no' troops would be quartered nearer than the nearest fortress." THE SOVIET'S DISAPPROVAL LONDON, March 12. (Received March 13, at 9 p.m.) The Daily Telegraph's diplomatic correspondent says: "The Soviet marked disapproval of Herr Hitler's policy by cutting off its negotiations with Germany for 500,000,000 marks of credit for Russian purchases of German goods during the next 10 years." AUSTRIAN PRESS SURPMSE LONDON, March 12. (Received March 13, at 9 p.m.) The Times Vienna correspondent says: "A surprise was provided by the Reichpost, the organ of powerful Catholic interests, which welcomes Herr Hitler's offer. It says Austria should net place any obstacle in the way to a return to ordered neighbourly relationship with the kindred Reich. The Reichpost's attitude is illuminating to those who think that Catholic opinion is solidly anti-Nazi. Official quarters disclaim the article." INTENSE ACTIVITY IN ROME ROME, March 32. (Received March 18, at 9 p.m.) Beneath an outward appearance ot calm reserve intense diplomatic activity is progressing. The press, apparently from official sources, states that Italy cannot apply sanctions against Germany since she imports so many essentials from Germany. Nevertheless, Italy will do everything possible to assure European peace, though her own position as a sanctioned country impels important reservations. GERMAN PRESS COMMENT BERLIN, March 13. (Received March 14, at 0.15 a.m.) Germany has done her share for the pacification of Enrope and she now expects others to do theirs, epitomises the comment in the Berlin morning papers, iu which the German official statement is given prominence, especially the Government's determination " rather to choose honourable isolation than continue to live as a nation discriminated against in the community of peoples." The Berliner Tageblatt says the Government's statement is " the last appeal to the conscience of the politicians assembled in London." It adds: "Germany has shown that she is ready to make sacrifices for the ideals of European co-operation and in this serious hour assures the world that she will honestly observe honest agreements." The Kreutz Zeitung strongly appeals to Britain, saying it is hardly imaginable that the British people could support the French, especially after Mr Eden's statement in the House of Commons that there was no reason for the assumption that the German action contained a hostile threat. The London correspondent of the Boersen Zeitung says: "Britain must now decide whether she favours the system of European policy, which is for keeping down Germany, or a system of independent European States with equal rights." General Goering, in a speech at Koenigsberg, said: "Come what may. Germany will stand together like one man to the last breath. We have offered world peace, but peace must come from both sides." THE OLYMPIC GAMES LONDON, March 12. (Received March 13, at 10 p.m.) While some Paris newspapers advocate a boycott of the Olympic Games Compte do Baillet Latour, president of the International Olympic Committee, said in Paris that nothing short of war would prevent the games from being held in Berlin. Athletic officials in Belgium express the opinion that only a formal request from the Foreign Minister or deterioiation of its situation to an extent which was likely to lead to war would prevent the games. It was pointed out that they are organised by an International Committee, not by Germany alone. The Swedish Olympic Committee iias decided to participate in any circumstances. Italy intends keeping her pledge to be represented in Berlin, but Austria is resentful because of German's recent action in- forbidding her skiers to participate in the international championships at Innsbruck. Britain has never considered not participating, and the latest appeal for funds stresses that creeds or politics will not influence the choice of a team.

After a tirade against Communism, Herr Hitler proceeded: " I have drawn the only possible conclusion from the Franco-Soviet Pact by re-establishing our sovereignty. My offer of peace is the greatest that could have been made by a German. There will not always be a man able to offer peace fit such a period. I hope the world lias now realised that I am no superficial nonsense talker. I have made no offer that cannot be combined with my honour. I have not usurped my office, bin; hold it in trust from the German people, to whom I now appeal, hoping that the hour has come when Germans will be accepted into the brotherhood of nations as equals. We shall d : e, but Germany must live. I assure you that nothing, absolutely nothing, will induce us to regret this regained sovereignty over the Rhineland." A tornado of cheering ended with the Hors: Wessel song and " Deutscliland L'ber Alios." THE FRANCO-SOVIET PACT PARIS, March 12. The Senate replied to Herr Hitler's condemnation of tne Franco-Soviet Pact by ratifying it by 281 votes to 52 "No nation has the right to say she is menaced by any stipulation in this treaty or that she is the victim of encirclement," said M. Paul Boncour. He added: "It is not the fault of France if Germany and Poland refuse to join the treaty, which was open to all parties." M. Millerand declared: " I was originally opposed to the pact, but 'Hitler's gesture' has changed my view. The majority of us now approve of the pact because we consider that all France at present should be behind the Government." The Communist lender, M. Marcel Cachin, said he voted in favour of it because it was a pact for peace. M. Sarraut confined himself to putting a question of confidence. It is Jearned' that the Soviet will ratify the pact immediately. GRAVITY OF SITUATION LONDON, March 12. (Received March 13, at 5.5 p.m.) It has now been revealed that after last night's Cabinet meeting Mr Eden summoned the German Ambassador and told him it would be difficult to exaggerate the gravity of the view the Government took of the present situation. In view of the next day's meeting of the Locarno Powers , the Government felt justified in asking Heir Hitler to make at the earliest moment a spontaneous contribution which would help in securing a settlement. Mr Eden then suggested that in order to illustrate the sincerity of Germany's desire for a settlement she should withdraw all but a symbolic number of troops from the zone, that she should not increase the number, and should not fortify the zone at least for the period necessary for pacts to be negotiated and the international situation to be regularised. If Germany would make such a spontaneous gesture Mr Eden said he was sure it would be a valuable contribution towards easing the international situation. THE ARMY OF OCCUPATION ' LONDON, March 12. (Received March 13, at 9 p.m.) The Times political correspondent says: "The Germans maintain that there are 28,000 to 30,000 troops in the