BERLIN JUBILANT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18961, 11 March 1936, Page 5

BERLIN JUBILANT

BRITAIN'S VIEW

RHINELAND OCCUPATION

OPINION AS EXPECTED

PRESS WARNING TO PARIS

PLAN FOR MORE TROOPS

(Flue. Tel. Copyright —United Press Assn.) (Reed. Alnrch 11, noon.) LONDON, March 10.

The Daily Telegraph’s Berlin correspondent says that Germany lias been reassured by the speech delivered in the House of Commons yesterday by the British Foreign Secretary, Air. Anthony Eden, concerning the attitude of Britain to the German denunciation of the Locarno Treaty and her military reoccupation of the Rhineland zone.

The Berliner Tageblatt says that the speech contains what it had to contain from the British and League viewpoint, namely, a formal condemnation cf Germany and the necessary consoling words for France.

The Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung says: ‘‘Air. Eden’s declaration is what we expected. It opens the door to reasonable conversations regarding the future.”

Tho Kolnisehe Zeitung says that Germany recognises with satisfaction that tho British Government has not lost its head and does not regard. Germany s resumption of full sovereignty over the German Rhineland as a hostile act.

Other sections of the German press continue jubilantly to view what is described as the conciliatory nature of tho speeches in the House of Commons, the Volkischer Beobachter going so far as to warn France that she is becoming diplomatically isolated. “NO ONE WILL DO ANYTHING” The general opinion in Berlin is: — “Our troops are in the Rhineland, nobody will do anything about it.” A report from Cologne states that the German Government is planning to increase the Rhineland forces. Special billeting offices have been established, and citizens have been requested to state how many soldiers they are prepared to accommodate.

The Berlin correspondent of The Times says that official quarters are probably acutely relieved that the French have not entered the Rhineland in order to counter the German advances." ' However, the risk was slight; otherwise Germany would not have reoceupied the zone. Nevertheless, it existed in the German mind.

With this danger overcome, the German newspapers began emphasising the concession Germany is making by her offer of re-entrance to the League, while anxiety as to whether France will propose sanctions-against her is minimised, as the opinion is expressed that tho practical people of Britain do not desire further disturbances of trado.

The Germans are prepared to uphold the legality of the denunciation of the Locarno Treaty, pointing out that M. Flandin’s offer to submit the issue to The Hague Court was rejected because it involved a political issue which the court was not competent to decide. DENIAL OF AGGRESSION The Germans are also prepared to argue that Germany is not guilty of aggression, as only two divisions reentered the district which was formerly occupied by six Army Corps, and the intention to undertake hostilities was manifestly absent. However, armed police consisting of nine battalions, almost equivalent to another division, have been absorbed into the army of occupation, which is estimated at 40,000 to 45,000 men. Whatever happens ,at Geneva, there is no question of again evacuating the zone) although it is understood that the deinternationalisation of rivers will not be introduced into the present discussions.

A Geneva message states that Germany is sending Baron van Schmieden, .a former League official, to Geneva as observer to report to Herr Hitler.

The Daily Telegraph’s Geneva correspondent says that Mr. Eden’s speech is coolly received generally, as it was hoped lie would adopt a firmer attitude. It is pointed out that Germany, having attained her immediate aim in re-occupy-ing the Rhineland, and tearing up the Locarno Treaty, has no interest in attacking either France or Belgium at present. Mr. Eden’s statement that Britain would support France and Belgium in the event of such an attack is therefore regarded as outside the realm of practical politics.

BELGIAN FEELING

DOUBTS OF SANCTIONS

OPPOSITION INTENDED

LONDON, March 10,

The News-Chronicle’s Brussel’s" correspondent says it is authoritatively stated that the Belgian Government will opposo sanctions against Germany for two main reasons.

The first is because juridically Germany has not perpetrated any aggression against France and Belgium, and the second is because it is impossible to ask Italy to join in sanctions against Germany when Italy is herself subject to sanctions.

The Belgian Government is sceptical of Herr Hitler’s offer of new treaties, but expresses the opinion that it would blunder brutally if it were to reject the German proposals, as it is felt that nothing can be lost by negotiating with Oeimany.