PEACE TALK

Taranaki Daily News, 11 April 1935, Page 5

PEACE TALK

FRUITS OF VISITS

EUROPEAN VIEWPOINTS

MATERIAL FOR STRESA

HERR HITLER’S CLAIMS

SIR JOHN SIMON SPEAKS

British Wireless. Rugby, April 9. The House of Commons showed intense interest to-day in the statement which the Foreign Secretary (Sir John Simon) on the eve of his departure for the three-Power conference at Stresa made with regard to the recent exploratory tour of European capitals. Sir John said it had to be appreciated that just as the visits paid to Berlin, Moscow, Warsaw and Prague arose out of the London declaration of February 3( so these visits which were to provide material as to the views of other Governments were connected with the Stresa meeting of the British, French and Italian Governments. In these circumstances he.could only make a summarised statement of what had been ascertained as to the views of other States, and it would not be possible to use the occasion for the pronouncement of the British Government’s policy.

As regards the so-called eastern pact, Herr Hitler had made it plain that Germany was riot prepared to sign an eastern pact unde- which Germany would be bound to mutual assistance. In particular Germany was not prepared to enter into a pact of mutual assistance between herself, and Russia. On the' other hand, Germany was stated to be in favour of a non-aggression pact between the Powers interested in the East European question, together with provisions for consultation if. aggression were threatened. Herr Hitler was not prepared in the present conditions to contemplate the inclusion of Lithuania in any pact of non-aggression.

NON-AGGRESSION PACT.

Germany also suggested that if in spite of this pact of non-aggression and consultation hostilities should break out between any two contracting Powers the other contracting Powers should engage not to support the aggressor in any way. Herr Hitler dwelt on the difficulty of identifying an aggressor.

■ Asked as to his view if some other parties to such a pact entered into an agreement of mutual assistance as amongst themselves,- Herr Hitler had stated he considered this itfea was dangerous and objectionable, as in his opinion- it would tend) to create special interests in a group within the wider system. ■ ■ '

At Moscow, said Sir John, Mr. Eden learned; that the Soviet Government considered that the present international situation made it more than ever necessary to pursue the endeavour to promote the building up of a security system in Europe as contemplated in the London communique and in conformity with the principles of the League. The Soviet Government emphasised that in its view the proposed .eastern pact did not aim at isolation. or encirclement ’of any State, but at the creation of equal security for all participants, and it was felt that the participation of. both Germany, and Poland in the pact would afford the . best solution of the problem. At Warsaw Mr. Eden learned the view of the Polish Government on this ques- ' tion. M. Beck, Polish Foreign Minister, explained that Poland had by her existing agreements with the Soviet Union on the one hand and with Germany on the other established tranquil conditions upon her two frontiers, and the question Poland was bound to ask herself was whether any new proposal would improve. or trouble the' good atmosphere thereby established. s The question of an eastern pact was also briefly reviewed in a short interview which Mr. Eden had! with Dr. Benes at Prague.

FUTURE OF AUSTRIA.

As regards the idea of a Central European pact, which was more particularly the topic of the Franco-Italian meeting at Rome, the British Ministers understood at Berlin that the German Government did not reject the idea of such an arrangement on the grounds of principle, but did not see, its necessity and saw great difficulty in defining “noninterference” in relation to Austria. Herr Hitler intimated, however, that if other Governments which should wish to conclude a Central European pact could agree upon the text the German Government would consider it.

At Warsaw M. Beck told Mr. Eden that Poland was prepared to adopt a friendly attitude towards a Central European pact and considered that the proposed) arrangement might , lead to appeasement and to a growth of confidence in that region. Dr. Benes at Prague expressed the hope that further progress might be made on this subject at Stresa.

With regard to land armaments, Herr Hitler stated that Germany required 36 divisions representing a maximum of 550,000 soldiers of all arms, including a division of S.S. (guard troops) and militarised police troops. Germany, he said, claimed "to possess all types of arms possessed by other countries and was not prepared to refrain from the constructing of certain types until the other countries ceased to possess them. If the other countries would abandon certain types Germany, he said, would do the same. f '

As'regards naval armaments Germany claimed with certain reserves 35 per cent, of the British tonnage, and in the air parity among Britain, France and Germany, provided that the development of the Soviet Air Force was not such that a revision of these figures would become necessary. z