BRITISH CABINET INCENSED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20668, 5 March 1937, Page 9

BRITISH CABINET INCENSED

GERMAN DEMAND FOR COLONIES AMBASSADOR’S HINT OF FORCE NORMAL EXCHANGES NOW IMPOSSIBLE United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received March 4, 5.5 pun.) LONDON, March 4 The political correspondent of “The News Chronicle” says Herr von Ribbentrop’s speech at Leipzig has incensed the British Cabinet, and has made normal diplomatic exchanges with him practically impassible. Several speakers taking part in the House of Commons debate on British foreign policy stressed the fact that Herr von Ribbentrop’s speech at Leipzig, giving the alternatives of a voluntary return of colonies or recovery “by Germany's own strength,” was being interpreted as a threat to regain them by force. The offending remarks of the German Ambassador in London are as follow: “Hope is growing that appreciation abroad of the injustice done to Germany regarding the colonies will result in the mandatory Powers making the gesture we expect, and which Germany has a right to demand,” declared Herr von Ribbentrop, addressing the Nazi Economic Council at the Leipzig Fair, in a speech, which it is believed he made with the full understanding of Herr Hitler. In further remarks Herr von Ribbentrop declared that It was in the interests of all countries to remove the world-wide unrest created by this injustice. A remedy can be found either by solving the problem by returning Germany’s colonies, or by Germany's own strength.” He denied that Germany would use the colonies for strategic purposes.