PARIS SURPRISED

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

PARIS SURPRISED

BITTER PRESS CRITICISM

NEGOTIATION INEVITABLE

SUGCIESTED CONDITIONS

BLANK GERMAN REFUSAL

(Elec. Tel. Copyright —United Press Assn.) (Reed. Arareh 11, 11.110 a.m.) LONDON, Afart'll 10.

Reports from Paris indicate that France was surprised and disappointed at ttie speech given in the House ot .Commons yesterday by the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Anthony hden, outlining Britain's attitude to the developments which occurred in Germany on Saturday.

France is disappointed especially with the suggestion that Britain is prepared to examine .objectively Herr Hitler’s proposals. It was hoped that. Air. Eden would support AI. Sarraut’s point-blank refusal to negotiate so long as the. German troops remained in the demilitarised area. By failing to do so, the speech indicated that the British Government had accepted Herr Hitler's fait accompli: ABSENCE OF PRESSURE

“Pertinax,” writing in the Echo de Paris, bitterly attacks Air. Stanley Baldwin and Air. Ramsay MacDonald as “the real sources of cowardice. He contends that the Government’s policy and British public opinion forced them to act in the case, of Abyssinia, but that they now have relapsed into natural apathy in the absence of further public pressure. The News-Chronicle’s Paris correspondent says it is beginning to be realised that negotiations with Germany are inevitable and that the Governments attitude has merely rendered it far more difficult than need have been the ease.

It is authoritatively stated that France is ready to negotiate with Germany provided the troops are withdrawn and a conference is held at Geneva within the framework of the League. It is stated that in the meantime, France has moved up 150,000 troops, bait’ the Norman home force, to the Maginot line. GESTURE OF FRIENDSHIP

Berlin reports indicate that the French condition of withdrawal is regarded as out of the question, although it is reported that, as a gesture of friendship to France, the German troops have been forbidden to. approach within eight miles of the frontier,^

The Sun-Herald News Service says that, again speaking with one voice, the entire British press #ppioves of the course events are taking. It emphasises, the fact that neither the Government nor the public have lost their heads. On the contrary, they are remaining perfectly calm, and this had a splendid effect abroad, even in France, where the earlier inclination was to act precipitately.

It is generally believed here that if the situation is handled carefully it will in no way imperil peace, and . that Britain, as" peacemaker, may still be ablo to mediate successfully between France and Germany.

WILLING TO ARBITRATE

LAW OF FORCE OPPOSED

FEARS FOR SECURITY

HITLER’S DIRECT ACTION

(Reed. March 11, 12.10 p.m.) PARIS, March 10. A crowded chamber heard M. Sarr,aut define France’s attitude to Germany. He declared that France was willing to leave the Rhineland issue to arbitration, but never accepted the substitution of the law of force, or a fait accompli, for international law. France had been always ready to listen to any proposal for the political or economic amelioration of Europe, and neglected no opportunity to better relations with Germany.

“I am convinced,” he said, “that if all the circumstances could be freely discussed a settlement could be achieved on the lines of international law without recourse to force.”

M. Sarraut recalled the Saar, where problems of supreme difficulty were solved without a single disorderly incident.

“We believe that the occupation of the demilitarised zone is a blow against our security and also against, the German people’s honour. We are willing to seek peace. France would like to know how the occupation ol the Rhineland will help to solve these problems. Would Germany have confidence in France if she demanded a new treaty just -because she had torn up the'old one? France cannot negotiate under a threat of violence and the renunciation of freely-given signatures. For that reason, wo are ap* pealing to the League and consulting with the Locarno signatories. _ France remains ready to negotiate with. Germany as soon as faith in treaties is restored. ’ ’

FRANCO-SOVIET PACT

EARLY RATIFICATION

HOPE OF SENATE ACTION

PARIS, March 10,

It is understood that an attempt will he made to rush the FrancoSoviet pact through the Senate on Thursday without debate.

It is stated that many Senators, who previously, either opposed, or wished to rob Herr Hitler of even this excuse for treaty-breaking, are now prepared to support it as a reply to “German provocation.”

The French Foreign Minister, M. Frandin, is reported to have assured M. Potemkin, the Soviet Ambassador, that the pact will be fully effective before the week-end.