GERMANY’S THREAT TO PEACE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22831, 16 March 1936, Page 9

GERMANY’S THREAT TO PEACE

EUROPEAN TENSION UNRELIEVED \ NATIONS CONFERRING IN LONDON BASIS OF NEGOTIATION SOUGHT HERR HITLER DECLINES TO GIVE WAY (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, March 14. (Received March 15, at 7.30 p.m.) The Daily Telegraph understands that the British Government is drafting proposals for European peace, incorporating all Herr Hitler’s suggestions, for consideration as soon as a basis of negotiation can be established between the Locarno Powers and Germany. The majority of the British Ministers, however, are insistent that Germany must order a substantial withdrawal of her Rhineland forces as a condition of negotiations. The Berlin correspondent of The Times says: “ The general view is that Germany will neither withdraw her troops from the Rhineland nor surrender to a show of force, however overwhelming. In the Rhineland, as the Germans see it, is the question of their fundamental rights as a nation. Military action, it is believed, would mean a European disaster, and many think that sanctions would not be much better. “ Two questions, therefore, are anxiously being asked: First, whether a German action constituting no military threat to anyone must become the cause of a European war; secondly, can no formula be found by which Germany can help to regularise the position in the Rhineland without being compelled to give way on a question of honour? ”

GRAVITY OF CRISIS f ' . . r ■■■— STRESSED AT COUNCIL MEETING GERMAN ACTION CONDEMNED FRANCE’S APPEAL TO POWERS LONDON, March 14. (Received March 15, at 7.5 p.m.) The Associated Press special correspondent at St. James’s Palace states that the members of the League Council, who, on January 24, agreed to hold the next meeting away from Geneva only if the international situation was calmer, found themselves to-day assembling, through’the'sudden change of direction of the crisis, in Queen Anne’s stately crimson and gilt drawing room at St. James Palace. It was the first League meeting in London since 1922. Events have developed so rapidly since January that pressing invitations to M. Titulescu and M. Vasconcellos by meet at Bucharest and Lisbon respectively were forgotten in the general agreement on London as .the most desirable venue for the present session. There were many evidences of haste in the preparations, which were so inadequate to accommodate 200 representatives of the world’s press that few of them gained places in the actual meeting room. The guardroom of the palace, where Charles I spent the last night before his execution, was hastily converted into headquarters for the cable companies. The makeshift character of the arrangements was evidenced by the inexperience of the temporary officials, one of whom sought M. Flandin’s credentials as he arrived at the door. Heavily framed portraits of British monarchs looked down upon a cosmopolitan assemblage as, after half an hour’s private meeting, Mr S. M. Bruce and other delegates filed into Queen Anne’s drawing room and took their seats at the oval table beneath magnificent antique chandeliers.

much used a right as obeyed a duty. If it was only a matter of right Locarno authorised her to take urgently decisive measures, but she was anxious not to add any element of trouble to the European situation. Therefore France had abstained so as to give full meaning and respect to international law. The exchange of Notes in May and June had amply refuted the German arguments concerning the Franco-Soviet Pact. Germany had not accepted Prance’s declaration to remit the pact to The Hague Court. She had not sought a common discussion with other signatories of Locarno. Instead she had voided the treaty, which Herr Hitler had admitted was freely negotiated, and also Article 43 of the Versailles Treaty, which Article 44 qualified as a hostile act. In asking that violation should be borne witness to, Prance simply invoked the application of the law. Once the evidence had been established it would be the business of the guarantors to furnish France and Belgium with the assistance which the Locarno Treaty provided. M. Flandiii impressed on the nonsignatories that it was a question not only of general peace but the existence of the League itself. It was a matter of knowing if a practical fait accompli and unilateral repudiation of agreements freely and solemnly accepted were going to be put up with in Europe as a political system. He asked the Council to bear witness to Germany’s breach, notify the signatories of Locarno, and putf them in a position to fulfil their obligations of assistance. It would be for the Council to examine how it would be able to reinforce this action by recommendations to members of the League. No doubt Germany’s decision had long been prepared. Germany’s arguments were nothing but a pretext chosen from others which it had considered before. France was confident of the impartiality of the Council and confident of the Powers’ wishes to fulfil the duties devolving on them. France had resolved to put at the disposal of the League ail her material and moral forces to aid it in overcoming one of the gravest crises in the history of peace by collective organisation. He added that Prance had the right according to Locarno to take brutal and decisive measures, but relied entirely on the wisdom of the Council. BELGIUM’S POSITION M. Van Zeeland said: “Demilitarisation of the Rhineland is one of the essential elements of our security system because we have the longest common frontier with Germany. Locarno was the very basis of our international status. A breach of it is serious for a country relying on the structure of international law for security. Belgium has never given an excuse for a breach, particularly in this case, in which it applied Locarno in letter and spirit with scrupluous attention. In our eyes these pacts are intended to protect ihose remaining faithful to them against those who do not. We realise that the international structure must be rebuilt, but none can deny the severe blow struck in the eyes of the world and perhaps those of future generations at the moral value of an attempt to built on the structure of law, the weakening of which imposes new burdens and duties on humanity, “ Belgium is obliged again to appeal to the League with a feeling of profound sadness and some bitterness. I have the sad duty of asking you in her name to consider the breach in accordance with the text of Locarno.’' M. Van Zeeland also stressed that Belgium considered Locarno a perfect formula guaranteeing world peace. It was not made for Belgium’s benefit alone but also for the advantage of Germany, There was no reason why Germany should in any way modify her relations with Belgium. Mr Bruce declared that unless his colleagues desired to speak immediately this was an appropriate time to adjourn. He declared that the Council would meet at 3.30 p.m. on Monday. INVITATION TO GERMANY After the public meeting the Council met in private to decide whether to send a formal invitation to Germany under Article 17 of (lie Covenant. It was I finally resolved to invite Germany to attend future meetings. It is believed that the Council was assured beforehand that Germany would accept. The public session of the Council j lasted only 45 minutes. M. Plandin and M.; Van Zeeland used temperate language. The firmness of their declarations revealed the strength of the attitude which they adopted during the private talks with the four Locarno Powers. An embarrassed silence met Air Bruce’s question whether, the other members desired to speak. During the week-end discussions an endeavour will be made to decide the form which the League resolution should take, for M. Flandin’s and M. Van Zee-

Mr Bruce began the proceedings by thanking the King for placing the palace at the League’s c’.isposaal, especially as it involved the transfer of the levee of Wednesday next to Buckingham Palace instead of, by old tradition, St. James’s. Journalists crowding round the doors to get a glimpse of the opening ceremony accidentally set a lire extinguisher in motion. The speeches were amplified to adjoining rooms. Mr Eden said: “I will not have overmuch to say. The future depends jn the wisdom of the decisions. In Britain's view it is patent and incontestable that a breach of the Versailles and Locarno Treaties has been committed. If this conclusion is shared it would be for the Council to endeavour to find a solution of the difficulties. Our Locarno cosignatories on the Council may count on Britain’s fullest co-operation in endeavours to establish peace and understanding on a firm, enduring foundation.” FIRM STAND BY FRANCE M. Flandin said that the German troops in the Rhineland were not symbolic but consisted of more than 30,000 regulars, not to speak of those enumerated from Berlin. France had not so

land’s declarations to-day were statements of their case rather than direct proposals to the League. The members of the Council lunched with Mr Bruce, when the solemnity of the occasion and the vastness of the issues at stake appeared to rest heavily upon the delegates. With regard to the invitation to Germany to attend the League Council it is explained that a previous approach was made to Berlin which constituted a “ polite suggestion ” that she should represent the Rhineland at the Council meeting, which Germany did not choose to regard as a direct invitation. Hence a formal direct invitation has now been made. THE RHINELAND FORCES STRENGTH INFLUENCES MINISTERS LONDON, March 14. (Received March 15, at 7.30 p.m.) The Daily Telegraph’s diplomatic correspondent says: “ I am assured that, were the British Government to decide that it would not stand by France and Belgium, the Cabinet would be split from top to bottom. The Ministers have been further influenced by the more accurate estimate of the German forces in the Rhineland available yesterday from reliable sources. Thirty thousand regulars marched into the Rhineland last week-end, to which must be added 30,000 of the Labour Corps, trained for military work, who, it is reported, are being armed and incorporated in the regulars. There are also in the Rhineland 150.000 Storm Troopers in semi-military formation, between 8000 and 10,000 members from the Austrian Legion, and a number of motor car units. Faced with this force, Frarice is arguing that she may be compelled to mobilise a number of units on the border frontier, and is also pressing Belgium and Britain to join her in a new Locarno Pact of mutual assistance with immediate staff consultations.”

The Times says: “M. Van Zeeland submitted a report to the conference of Locarno signatories, the discussion of which occupied most of the conference’s time. It embraced, first, unanimous recognition of Germany’s violation of freely-accepted treaty obligations; secondly,' unanimous agreement by the delegations that the crisis must not become a step on the road to war; thirdly, the question of the British contribution towards the security of the Western Powers, particularly France and Belgium, now isolated from Germany by her action.”

The German Embassy states that the military forces in the Rhineland, including the organised police, number only 36,500, with no armoured fighting units and no bombing planes. The Embassy contends that since the Rhineland is one-eighth of the area of Germany and contains one-fifth of her people, such co-operation cannot be regarded otherwise than as symbolic. ALTERED CIRCUMSTANCES GERMAN ATTITUDE TO LOCARNO BERLIN, March 14. (Received March 15, at 7.30 p.m.) “ Official diplomatic correspondence ” declares that the Locarno treaty at the crucial point made the defence of Germany against France impossible by placing such overwhelming forces at France’s disposal that the guarantor Powers could not successfully help a Germany thus deprived of the power of resistance or even attack. The position when Locarno was signed was different from that now created by the erection of France’s vast frontier fortifications, and her policy of alliances with Poland and Czechoslovakia. In the face of this Germany’s reaction seemed trifling. UNPLEASANT DEVELOPMENT PUBLIC BEING PREPARED BERLIN, March 14. (Received March 15, at 7.5 p.m.) Public opinion is apparently being prepared for an unpleasant development. The morning newspapers reveal a fatalistic attitude towards the League meeting. They plead with Britain to enforce “ a reasonable solution.” GERMANY’S ALTERNATIVES FATEFUL DECISION TO BE MADE BERLIN, March 13. Political circles realise that Germany must make a fateful decision in the next few days as to whether she should sacrifice national pride to political expediency, opening the door for further international co-operation. One of the reasons why Germany may prove more conciliatory is her desire for colonies. It is realised that there is little chance of obtaining their return, which is the next object of the German policy, unless Germany satisfies the world of her sincerity and goodwill. SANCTITY OF TREATIES FRANCE’S DEFINITE STAND LONDON, March 13. The Paris correspondent of The Times says that authoritative sources declare that nothing will induce France to renounce the right to oppose violation of the treaty, which is regarded as the keystone of security. FRONTIER DEFENCES FRANCE’S IMPREGNABLE LINE LONDON, March 13. The Sun-Herald Service says that scores of thousands of French troops have completed manning the Maginot line, which, with “turrets of death” and chain underground fortifications of steel concrete, constitutes the strongest defences in history. It cost nearly £100,000,000. The Daily Mail Metz correspondent reports that the French are carrying out military exercises based on plans covering a month, in which the full resources of the defences will he tested. A network of communications keeps batteries informed of the movements of oncoming war planes. Military experts are convinced that the line is at present impregnable and cannot he crossed either by land or air. NO EASING OF TENSION BRITISH ATTITUDE PLEASES FRANCE PARIS, March 13. There arc no signs of an easing of the international tension, some observers even declaring that Herr Hitler’s speech has made the situation more acute. The fact that Britain considers the latest German proposals unsatisfactory, however, lias produced an excellent impression in Paris, where it, is considered that a peaceful solution can only he obtained by close Anglo-French collaboration, the newspapers pointing out, that France has not refused comprehensive conversations with Germany.