GRAVE CRISIS IN EUROPE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19625, 20 October 1933, Page 9

GRAVE CRISIS IN EUROPE

REVIEW BY LORD READING UNITY OF NATIONS WILL PREVENT WAR United Press Association— By Electrlo Telegraph—Copyright (Received October 19, 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, October 9. Lord Reading, speaking at a dinner given by the English-Speaking Union, said: "It is no use mincing matters. The world is faced with a grave crisis, but all the nations are striving for peace. They must accept from the German Government’s pronouncements that its peaceful intentions are sincere. In that case, there should be no insuperable difficulties in arriving at some conclusion.” He said it was unbelievable that any nation in the world would enter a war, if it knew that America and the British Empire, and he hoped other nations, would be banded together. Cabinet in Session. Cabinet sat for two and a half hours, to decide the next step in the disarmament question, which must, if possible, be taken in full agreement with the other Powers. The Ministers will meet again when the diplomatic exchanges between Paris, Washington and Rome have been completed. Mr Ramsay Macdonald warned his colleagues to be prepared to meet at short notice. The German Press continues its attack on Sir John Simon, but the British Cabinet is of unanimous opinion that he acted throughout strictly in accordance with the Government's instructions. STATEMENT BY LORD LLOYD. United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received October 19. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Ojtober 18. Lord Lloyd in a broadcast statement said: “Even if Germany was rearming, she would be unable to attack France. For that reason, there was no European crisis. Despite the dangerous atmosphere of suspicion and fear, we must renew our commitments and apprise the world of our attitude. Eight years had elapsed since Locarno, but France still lacked guarantees of security, and therefore could not disarm. Such a policy needed revision. Surely the British Parliament and people, and not an international body, should be judges of what constituted aggression. We decided, in no circumstances, to fight a preventive Continental war. If the Treaty bound us to enter the war, were we so equipped, as to make that entry effective. All desired to see Britain the focal point of peace and international negotiations, but we had not achieved this. If she were strong within her borders, she could be an example of peace, but if over-entangled in European problems, our peace influence would be marred and the opportunity lost." BRITISH OFFICIAL POLICY. DEMAND FOR FRIENDLY UNDERSTANDING. British Official Wireless RUGBY, Ocotber 18. The Imperial Cabinet to-day will consider the disarmament situation in the light of Germany’s withdrawal. Sir John Simon, in his broadcast address, said the future course of action will need close study and the fullest reflection on the part of the Cabinet as a whole, and involve communications with other Powers, including, he should hope, Germany herself. At a full meeting of Cabinet to-day it is understood the disarmament question was fully considered. At the conclusion of the meeting Sir John Simon left for Sandringham, having been summoned by the King to give an-account of the developments in connection with the Disarmament Conference. Plain Statement. It is felt in British circles that Sir John Simon's “plain statement of events" has served to elucidate the situation and place the facts in their correct perspective. The "Daily Mail" regrets Sir John Simon's broadcast omitted to explain why the four years’ probationary period for Germany had been raised to eight. IS GERMANY SINCERE? HERR HITLERS REPLY TO QUESTIONS. United Press Association.- Bv Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received October 19, 11.32 p.m.) LONDON, October 19. "The Daily Mail" publishes a lengthy statement Herr Adolf Hitler made to Mr G. Ward Price (special representative in Berlin), which is described as the most explicit the Chancellor has yet made. Herr Hitler, answering questions, said: "We are teaching the German youth to fight only Internal evils. Germany's attitude to France has always depended on France s attitude to Gcr- | many.” Mr Ward Price asked: “What’s your j answer to the charge that Germany's j armaments are greater than are offlei- |

ally admitted; that you have war materials in Holland. Sweden and elsewhere?” Herr Hitler replied: 'How can these munitions exist when every single gun in Germany is known, and it is incredible that these foreign reserves should exist unnoticed.” Mr Ward Price: "Does Germany intend to recover the Polish Corridor?” Her Hitler answered. "No sane person would believe the Polish Corridor to be one of the greatest achievements of the Peace Conference, but nobody in Germany thinks we are going to war with Poland over the Corridor.” Answering further questions Herr Hitler said: “We shall never go to war to get the colonies back. We are convinced we are as capable as any other nation of administrating and developing colonial territories, but we regard this as a matter for negotiation. The German Government is working neither for monarchy nor republic, but solely to improve the condition of the German people. We lost the war, and we are manly enough to recognise that we must bear the consequences. We have borne them, but it is intolerable that a nation of 85.000.000 should continually and repeatedly be dishonoured and humiliated.” ATTITUDE OF FRENCH. OFFICIAL REPLY TO HERR HITLER. British Official Wireless RUGBY, October 18. In a brief reply to Herr Hitler. M Daladier. the French Prime Minister, yesterday asked "If the nation’s policy was one of disarmament to the last man and the last gun, why did it not agree to the plan which had been sincerely and loyally drawn up. and which at any rate went ns far as possible in spite of circumstances to achieve that end. The French Government would carefully examine the present situation in the light of the new facts" by which not only France but her neighbours were aftccted.