GERMAN APPEALS TO FRANCE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20509, 29 August 1936, Page 17

GERMAN APPEALS TO FRANCE

SOVIET ALLIANCE OPPOSED PURPOSE OF ENVOY’S VISIT TO PARIS REASON FOR EXTENDED CONSCRIPTION United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received August 28, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, August 27. The Paris correspondent of “The Manchester Guardian” says: ’’There seems no longer any mystery about Dr. Schacht’s visit to France. The Minister of National Economy arrived with a verbal message from Herr Hitler, to the effect that France need not be alarmed about German rearmament, which was “not directed against her.” Dr. Schacht, at the same time, hinted that the Franco-Soviet Pact was an obstacle to the harmonious progress of Franco-German relations. In a statement in “Le Soir,” Dr. Schacht referred to the cordial atmosphere of his conferences. He said the ice had been broken. Authoritative spokesman, however, said that Dr. Schacht appeared to be in too great a hurry to assume that France had already swallowed Herr Hitler’s army decree. Appeal and Reply The Paris correspondent of “The Times” says Dr. Schacht, during his discussions with the French Ministers, argued that for financial, economic and military reasons, Germany was compelled to continue the progress of rearmament. The remedies he suggested were: (1) Financial relief by “currency alignment,” and the development of trade; (2) The return of Germany’s colonies, thus opening up fresh markets and enabling Germans to obtain supplies of raw materials; (3) The renunciation of the Franco-Russian Pact. Otherwise the present German policy and the dangers it entailed, would continue. The French answer regarding currency alignment and the return of colonies was that others must first be consulted; while regarding the FrancoRussian Pact, France will not renounce it, nor will she accept any arrangement dividing Europe into separate or watertight compartments. Herr Hitler’s military service decree has strengthened, not weakened, that resolve.

was caused in political circles by a violent communist attack on the Government because M. Leon Blum (Prime Minister) and other members of the Government attended the Bank of France’s luncheon to Dr. Hjalmar Schacht (Nazi Minister .'or Economic Affairs), who is at present visiting Paris for financial, economic, and other discussions. M. Thorez, the Communist leader, in a letter to M. Blum, declared: “At the very moment when Herr Hitler is precipitating an armaments race gravely threatening world peace and France’s security, it ill befits the dignity of France or the cause of peace that special honour should be paid to the president of the Reichsbank.” M Thorez’s -outburst was regarded in certain radical-socialist circles as presaging a Communist break with the Government, probably entailing a Cabinet crisis, but M. Blum is unrepentant. His reply to M. Thorez was that the Government was fully capable of maintaining the national dignity, which had not suffered by the meeting with Dr. Schacht. “Even on the morrow of Herr Hitler’s military service decree,” he said, “the Government has no intention of refusing financial, economic and political conversations which may facilitate a general settlement of Europe’s problems.” GERMANY’S BIGGER ARMY BRITAIN'S ATTENTION TO BE DRAWN United Press Association— By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received August 29, 1.15 a.m.) PARIS, August 28. The French Government is expected shortly to draw Britain’s attention to the large increase in the German army; also to ask the Soviet the reason for lowering the conscription age.