COOL RECEPTION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume IV, Issue 78, 11 March 1936, Page 5

COOL RECEPTION.

Nations Disappointed with Mr. Eden’s Speech. BUT GERMANY IS PLEASED. Press Association —Copyright. London, March 10. The Geneva correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says Mr. Eden’s speech was received coolly. It was generally hoped he would adopt a firmer attitude. It is pointed out that Germany, having attained her immediate aim by reoccupying 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 will support France and Belgium in the event of such an attack is therefore regarded as outside the realm of practical politics. After Mr. Eden's departure for Paris all the Dominion High Commissioners were received to-night at Downing Street, where Britain's attitude to the Rhineland situation was further explained. Germany Reassured. The Berlin correspondent of the Telegraph says Mr. Eden’s speech reassured Germany. The Berliner Tageblatt says: “The speech contains what it had to contain from the British and League viewpoint—formal condemnation of Germany’s step as necessary consoling words tor France. The Deutsche. Allgemeine Zeitung says: “Mr. Eden’s declaration was what we expected. It opens the door to reasonable conversations regarding the future.” The Kolnische Zeitung says Germany recognises with satisfaction that the British Government has not lost its head and does not regard Germany’s resumption ot full sovereignty over the German Rhineland as a hostile act.

Mr. Eden’s speech surprised and disappointed France, especially the statement that Britain was prepared to examine objectively Herr Hitler’s proposals, says a Paris message. It was hoped Mr. Eden would support M. Sarraut’s point blank refusal to negotiate as long as German troops remained in the demilitarised zone. By failing to do so it is maintained that the British Government has accepted Herr Hitler’s fait accompli. The Australian Associated Press understands that the British and Australian standpoint at the League Council meeting, will favour condemnation of Germany’s unilateral denunciation of the Locarno Treaty will emphasise that respect for freely negotiated treaties must be the basis of any attempt to rebuild European peace, but will resist the French and Belgian ’’ demands for any form of sanctions against Germany, because although the treaty was broken aggression was not committed. The Daily Telegraph says the City is notably calm in face of the European developments. All sections of the stock markets as a precaution were marked down, but selling pressure did not develop.