LEAGUE INVOKED

Taranaki Daily News, 23 March 1935, Page 7

LEAGUE INVOKED

PROTEST FROM FRANCE EARLY MEETING LIKELY TWO NOTES TO GERMANY EXPLANATIONS REJECTED REPLY FROM HERR HITLER British Wireless. Rugby, March 21. The French Foreign Minister, M. Laval, last night sent a telegram to the Secretary-General of the League of Nations, M. Avenol, calling the attention of the League to the introduction of conscription by Germany. The communication states that Germany has violated her international engagements while still a member of the League and recalls the preamble of the League Covenant binding States to observe scrupulously their treaty obligations. It asks for an extraordinary meeting of the League Council by virtue of paragraph 2 of article 11 of the League Covenant, which recognises the friendly right of the League members to bring to the attention of the Assembly or the Council any circumstances affecting peace or good understanding between the nations.

The Note points out that Germany remains a member of the League until October 21, when the two years notice of withdrawal expires. A meeting of the Council probably will be convened early in April. The French Government has also made an official protest to the German Government in a Note delivered by the. French Ambassador at Berlin. This Note is a short document on judicial lines stating that Germany has violated international law by her unilateral denunciation of the military clauses of the Treaty of Versailles, pointing out the unfortunate effect of this action on international negotiations and putting on record that France makes complete reservations with regard to German rearmament. “COMPROMISED SUCCESS." The Note says that Germany after accepting an invitation to discuss the Franco-British proposals deliberately compromised the possibility of successful negotiation. France, places on Germany the responsibility for world unrest and the possible consequences of it. The Note continues: “The re-estab-lishment of conscription and the official constitution of military aviation are definitely contrary to the treaty Germany has signed and are also contrary to the declaration of December 11, 1932, when the German Government spontaneously recognised that a general armaments statue involving equality of rights for Germany could not be realised without the establishment of a regime of general security. “The Franco-British Governments, after several proposals tending to implement this principle, believed that they could testify to confidence in Germany by proposing free negotiations for the re-establishment of a German armament statute in the general settlement of the problem of security. Germany seemed to justify this confidence by accepting the principle, but the announcement of conscription constitutes a new manifestation of dispositions and methods with which Germany intends to oppose the offer of conciliation. DISAGREED WITH PRINCIPLE. “Accordingly France is obliged to take note of the fact that Germany has deliberately disagreed with the essential principle of the law of nations —that no Power can evade ' or modify a treaty without the friendly assent of the contracting parties—and has taken steps most calculated to compromise the. success of negotiations. France is firmly, resolved not to allow unilateral decisions violating international understandings being taken into account in any negotiation, although it will seek all proper means of international collaboration for dissipating unrest and safeguarding European peace,” A Berlin message states that Baron von Neurath, Foreign Minister, notified the French Ambassador that Germany rejected the explanation accompanying the French Note because “it did not take into account the actual position.” Baron von Neurath similarly rejected the explanation with the Italian Note. A Rome cable states that the Italian Note strongly protested against the German revocation of the Versailles Treaty. It added that the Italian Government maintains the utmost reserve regarding Germany’s decision and the probable developments. The Note continues: “Italy considered that the Versailles Treaty, part five should be revised by negotiation and maintained that Germany’s armaments should be the subject of negotiation which Germany accepted in principle on February 14. Moreover, Italy has always sought to persuade Germany to collaborate with the principal Powers in enabling recognition of Germany’s rights and responsibilities. , “Consequently, Germany’s decision is particularly grave owing to the uncertainty aroused,” adds the Note. “Italy cannot accept as a fait accompli a unilateral decision annulling international obligations.”