BRITISH POLICY IN EUROPE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20103, 9 May 1935, Page 9

BRITISH POLICY IN EUROPE

LEAGUE RESOLUTION ATTACKED APPEAL TO GERMANY SUGGESTED United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received May 8, 7.0 p.m.) LONDON, May 8.

In the House of Lords, Lord Dickinson moved a resolution regretting the League resolution on April 16, condemning Germany, and requesting the Government to concert with other Powers and resume negotiations with Germany in the direction of a permanent peace in Europe. « He said if the Allies dealt with Germany at Versailles as we did with the Boers at Vereeniging, Europe might now be on the road to prosperity, and Herr Hitler would be painting signboards in Vienna. Lord Mottistone said that doubtless he would be called a pro-German, but he thought that history would record the Allies’ failure to disarm as the beginning of the breaches of the Versailles Treaty. Lord Stanhope, replying, said it was the Government’s fervent hope that Herr Hitler’s speech next week would be a prelude to constructive German action in favour of peace. “We have drawn up the proposed air pact,” he said, “and France and Italy does the same. Let us see if we can get Germany to use the position as an equal, to make concrete, practicable proposals. Lord Dickinson withdrew his motion. GERMANY’S NAVAL PLANS MASSED CONSTRUCTION OF SUBMARINES United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received May 8, 7 p.m.) LONDON, May 8. The naval correspondent of “The Daily Telegraph” says that Germany is testing the capacity of the mass production of submarines. Twelve are being built, identical in every structural part and item, with equipment interchangeable. There is no lack of volunteers for submarines. They are signing on for twelve years. It is obvious that the naval personnel much exceeds the' Treaty limit of 15,000. GERMANY’S PROMPT MOVE ATTEMPT TO COUNTER FRENCH PACT WITH SOVIET United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received May 8, 11.15 p.m.) ! BERLIN, May 8. It is understood that Germany has approached the British, Italian and Belgian Governments regarding the demilitarised Rhineland zone, which, owing to its unarmed position, she feels is exposed to danger through the Franco-Russian Pact. Germany contends that the zone must either be rearmed or very definite guarantees given, especially by Britain, that assistance will be forthcoming if the zone is threatened and Germany is not the aggressor. Clearing up this question is likely to play a vital part in future policy and Herr Hitler is reported to be waiting for further information before completing the preparation of his speech tq be delivered on May 15. ATTITUDE TO GERMANY STRONG OPPOSITION TO PRESENT TREND United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, May 7. The unanimous opinion of tne Dominions that there should be no anti-German bloc, but that efforts to create collective security in Europe should be persisted in, was expressed at to-day’s meeting of British Government and Dominion Prime Ministers to discuss events in Europe and Imperial defence. The meeting lasted two hours. The Dominions’ representatives took an equally strong stand against the theory of Great Britain and che Empire saving themselves by splendid Isolation. While the attitude of General Hertzog (South Africa) naturally leaned further towards Germany than that of the other Dominion Ministers, they were unanimous that Germany should be treated as an equal with the other negotiators, and that the door should be kept open for her. All the Empire spokesmen, nevertheless, concurred that Germany must share the responsibility for the present state of uneasiness by the character of her recent decisions and the unfortunate moments she had chosen in which to pronounce them.

The Dominion Ministers agreed that no scheme of European peace was worth while unless Germany was a willing and helpful partner. It is understood that the Dominion Ministers expressed themselves in substantial agreement on British policy, up to the British-French-Italian Conference at Stresa, but Australia, for one, considered that some aspects of the resolution passed by the League of Nations Council at Geneva, condemning Germany for re-arming, were undesirable.

The question of Dominion commitments in Europe did not arise, but probably it will be introduced on

Thursday when the meeting will be resumed. This will be the last meeting at which all the Dominion Prime Ministers will be present, as Mr R B. Bennett will return to Canada on Friday. The Prime Minister of Australia was indisposed and was finable to attend the meeting owing to the strain of attendance at continuous functions. He remained at his hotel all day because of a recurrence of nervous trouble.

GERMAN REGARD OK TREATY STATEMENT BY FOREIGN SECRETARY British Official Wireless RUGBY, May 7. In the House of Commons to-day, a question was asked whether, in event of any alteration by Germany in the de-militarised zone under the Treaty of Versailles, it was to be understood that Britain would immediately go to the assistance of France with the whole of her armed forces under the Treaty of Locarno.

Sir John Simon, Foreign Secretary, said that the circumstances in which the British guarantee under the Treaty of Locarno would operate were specified in that Treaty itself. As stated in the Anglo-Italian declaration, embodied in the resolution passed by the British, Italian and French Ministers at the Stressa Conference, the British Government will stand by all their obligations under the Treaty of Locarno, and Intends, should the need arise, faithfully to fulfil them.