VISIT POSTPONED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23224, 23 June 1937, Page 9

VISIT POSTPONED

GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER DISAPPOINTMENT IN LONDON BRITAIN'S INTERNATIONAL POLICY (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, June 21. The visit to London of the German Minister of Foreign Affairs (Baron von Neurath) has been postponed. An official statement from Berlin says the situation arising from the repeated "Red Spanish attacks against German warships does not permit the absence of the Foreign Minister."

■ The decision has caused deep disappointment at Whitehall. The postponement of Baron von Neurath's visit is regarded as being all the more unfortunate in that the incident that occasioned it is at present under consideration in London. It is felt that Baron von Neurath's presence would have proved particularly helpful. BRITAIN'S POLICY It was learned by the political correspondent of the Australian Associated Press that Britain's invitation to Baron von Neurath, German Foreign Minister, to visit England, might be taken as a direct sequel to the discussions at the Imperial Conference on the international situation.

In the House of Commons, however, the Foreign Secretary (MiAnthony Eden) told a questioner that no change was contemplated in the foreign policy of the United Kingdom Government as the result of the deliberations at the conference.

"DRIFTING STEADILY"

DISASTROUS CONFLICT AHEAD PACT WITH GERMANY NEEDED Writing in the Daily Mail recently Viscount Rothermere said: At present we are drifting steadily to a disastrous conflict with the new German-Italian alliance. There is but one way to avert it, and that is for the British Government to take the initiative in making a pact with Germany. In both countries the desirability of such an agreement is admitted. Herr Hitler has several times declared his readiness to meet us halfway. A large and influential body of British political opinion favours closer Anglo-German relations. The difficulties in the path are not of principle, but of detail. The most conspicuous of them concerns the former' German colonies now administered by the British and Dominion Governments under mandate.

The financial loss entailed by a reasonable restoration of African territory to Germany would be negligible. It has been far exceeded by the cost to British investors of a single one of the recent bad days in the " Kaffir market" on the London Stock Exchange. It should never be forgotten that, after four years and a-quarter of war, Britain, France, Italy, Russia, and Japan, aided by the United States, only just managed to secure a victory over the military might of Germany. To-day, after four years and a-quarter of intensive Nazi preparation, the German nation is relatively a far more powerful potential adversary than she was in 1914.