The Week Over The World

Southland Times, Issue 23182, 24 April 1937, Page 7

The Week Over The World

German Peace With Colonies (By Scrutator) Unless Germany’s economic and foreign policy has changed entirely in the past 12 weeks it is not hard to find reasons for the lack of enthusiasm which greeted the report on Tuesday that Hen Hitler had expressed his readiness to participate in a conference on economic co-operation and mutual understanding. In his address to the Reichstag on January 30 Herr Hitler declared that Germany would not depart from her four-year plan, “whatever other countries do”; and in the same speech he laid down as one of his eight points for pacification (not peace) that “European problems can only be solved within possible limits, and Germany will watch her own security with a strong army.” Neither the dissolution of economic barriers nor a successful effort towards disarmament is possible when the most influential nation in Europe is pledged to such a policy. The question is whether Herr Hitler has modified his plan of campaign. His point of view may now be this: Somehow or other Germany (with Italy) must disentangle herself from Spain; why should she not take ad-

vantage of the democracies’ desire for peace at almost any price, and make another series of proposals for the adjustment of European relations? Britain has tremendous leeway to make up in rearmament, and the new British tax on profits is making the programme an unpleasant reality to a section of the people which is politically powerful. Britain’s position would be awkward if Herr Hitler now suggested general disarmament on his own terms, the first of which would undoubtedly be a further demand for colonies. Britain and France realize just how exacting Germany’s conditions would be, and that is probably the reason ‘ for their emphasis on the futility of calling a conference unless its success was previously assured. A review of Herr Hitler’s past “peace” offers does not inspire optimism about the sincerity of any future proposals he may make. In February 1933 Herr Hitler asked for four years, at the end of which the world “can form what judgment it likes and even crucify me.” The programme he promised to fulfil was: Redeem the German peasant from pauperization. Finally to overcome unemployment. (Latest official total of unemployed, 1,076,000). Raise the purchasing power of the masses. Not to touch the rights of the two Christian creeds. Avoid all currency experiments. Not to do away with the Reichstag as such. . Strive to annul the division of the peoples of the earth into two categories. Pursue a friendly attitude to Soviet Russia. Punish treason with a barbarous lack of mercy.

n his first peace plan, on May 21, 1935 .lerr Hitler offered: Pacts of non-aggression with neighbouring States. A Western European air pact. Limitations on arms accepted by other Powers. A world ban on aerial bombing. A limitation of aggressive weapons. The abolition of the submarine. When approached by Britain, Germany replied that she could not clarify the offer “by means of definitions.” Asked on August 5 to include Russia, Latvia and Estonia in the non-aggression pacts, Germany replied that Herr Hitler could not go into a question of such intricacy until after the holidays. After several months the Abyssinian conflict was given as a reason for suspending negotiations. Herr Hitler produced his second peace plan on March 7, 1936 at the moment German troops were marching into the Rhineland. He proposed: Mutual demilitarized zones. Non-aggression pacts for 25 years with France and Belgium, with Britain and Italy as guarantors. A Western European air pact. A non-aggression pact with eastern border States. The ultimate return of Germany to the League of Nations. Proposals made by the other Locarno Powers were rejected and on March 31 Herr Hitler produced a third peace plan, in which he raised the question of colonial equality and suggested economic conversations. On May 7 last year Britain sent a questionnaire seeking an interpretation of certain points. Germany did not reply, and in November Britain sounded all the Locarno Powers about their attitude to a new settlement for Western Europe. Germany and Italy delayed their reply until last February. The gist of the German reply was reported to be that a new pact was possible only if all the signatories were free of commitments. In other words it would be incompatible with the Franco-Soviet Pact and France’s alliances with Poland and Czechoslovakia. According to some reports the German reply includes a proposal for a guarantee of the Franco-German frontier by Britain and Italy. None of Herr Hitler s proposals has yet been acceptable to the rest of Europe. In spite of Britain’s formidable rearmament and the German army

leaders’ lack of confidence in the military prowess of their fascist ally, Italy, it seems almost too much to hope that the next German gesture will be reasonable enough to lead to a roundtable talk. Russia was not mentioned during the discussions between Herr Hitler and Mr Lansbury, and it was later officially stated that the colonies question came first in the Nazi scheme of things. Yet inside Germany there is evidence of a desire for a better understanding with her neighbours. Last month the Berliner Tageblatt, one of Germany’s most reasonable newspapers, sought the opinions of some of the best-known economists in Europe on the question of an international conference. M. Labeyrie, Governor of the Bank of France, emphasized the importance of economic co-operation, his suggestion being supported by Dr Paul Serruys, formerly of the French Ministry of Commerce. Mr Roosevelt’s idea of a personal meeting of the world’s leaders was seconded by Sir Raymond Beazley,,the international publicist, who said that “the man in the street” in all countries, was not specially anxious for a new armaments race. He saw the prospect of ever higher taxes and greater indebtedness, and he would welcome disarmament. “Is it not time that the peoples of Europe reached an understanding, since they have a common heritage and a common aim?” asks the Berliner Tageblatt, concluding its summary of these opinions.