FRENCH APPEAL TO GENEVA

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20064, 22 March 1935, Page 9

FRENCH APPEAL TO GENEVA

TERMS OF COVENANT INVOKED VERY SHARP NOTE TO GERMANY United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright PARIS, March 20. France sent a strongly worded Note to Germany, insisting on adherence to her legal Treaty obligations. It has been decided to bring Germany’s conscription decision before the League of Nations, Representatives of Britain, France and Italy will meet in Paris before Saturday, to discuss Germany’s rearmament. It is understood that Mr R, A. Eden will represent Britain. M. Laval is going to Moscow shortly. Terms of Note The Note to Germany protests against the .violation of the Versailles Treaty and the Franco-British declaration of February 3 and also the law of nations. The Note declares that France will not consider in coming negotiations any unilateral decision. The Prime Minister of France (M. Flandin), addressing the Senate, said the German proclamation corresponds wdth the conception which, if accepted generally, would destroy the League’s peace work. “We are appealing to the League in the interests of the community of States. France can defend herself, but the policy of force menaces many small, weak nations. The question must be fought out before the great international tribunal at Geneva. It is untrue that France has not fulfilled her disarmament obligations. She has halved her effectives, reduced the fleet from 768,000 to 555,000 tons, restricted the air force, and would have gone further but for the progress of German rearmament. She also gradually abandoned her reparation claims.

The Senate voted confidence in the Government by 263 votes to 21. RECEPTION OF FRENCH PROTESTS PRIME MINISTER’S HISTORIC UTTERANCE United Press Association— By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received March 21, 9.40 p.m.) LONDON, March 21. The speech by the French Prime Minister (M. Flandins), in the Senate is regarded as historic. It is certainly characterised by fearless frankness. He traversed Herr Hitler’s declaration point by point. He said that FrancoGerman reconciliation could not be based on a travesty of truth and a negation of law and justice. It was untrue that the German people laid down their arms after the war, which they had not wanted. The world’s judgment as regards the responsibility for unchaining war had been given long ago, while if the German people laid down their arms, it was because a coalition of nations, fighting for right was victorious, as it would be victorious in the future. Those passages were received with loud cheers. Declaring it was untrue that Germany had fulfilled her obligations under the Treaty of Versailles, M. Flandin declared that modifications of treaties were possible, but only within the framework of legality. “France hates war, and all measures for the maintenance of peace will be taken.” continued the Prime Minister. “The French Government will not cease its efforts to group round itself, a powerful block of States, which preserved the same ideals as ourselves. Let us retemper and recreate the national soul, and re-establish unity. Do not let us doubt that France has near her, a whole train of nations, who will join her in any hour of danger.” GERMANY DISSATISFIED United Press Association— Bv Electric Telegraph—Copyright BERLIN, March 20. M. Flandin’s speech evoked dissatisfaction. Official comment declares that France cannot apparently reconcile herself to the necessity of negotiating with an equal Germany.

VIOATION OF TREATY OF VERSAILLES ACTIVITIES OF LEAGUE DISCUSSED United Press Association—By Electric Tel egraph Copyrlgh t (Received March 21, 10.20 p.m.) LONDON, March 21. In reference to Germany's reported desire to resume her place in the League of Nations, the diplomatic correspondent of “The Daily Telegraph,” says: “The idea that a country can withdraw from the League, violate its obligations and then resume her place, as though nothing has happened, is nowhere held as admissible. Herr Hitler will certainly be advised that, if Germany sincerely desired to co-oper-ate in the work of the League, she should first show her willingness to 'negotiate for a general settlement on the basis of the London declaration." Interesting Comment “The Times” says: “It is agreed that the general object of the European policy is to bring Germany back to the League of Nations, but nothing could be better calculated to prevent her re-

turn than to indict her before the Council of the League, Moreover, the Council can no more than declare what everybody knows, that Germany has violated the Treaty of Versailles. The real question is whether Germany in the last 15 years has had a square deal and whether the Treaty itself in all respects was a fair one.- That question cannot be answered by any arbitration court in the world. The only result of arrainging Germany must be to give the League in German eyes the appearance more than ever of anti-Ger-man association and render more difficult the eventual approach thereto by Herr Hitler.”

The Rome correspondent of “The Times" says: “Italy. It is officially stated, ‘sees no reason for opposing the French appeal to the League of Nations or the French Note to Berlin,' but it is not yet known whether Italy will also send a Note of protest.”