GERMAN ATTITUDE DEFINED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20763, 25 June 1937, Page 9

GERMAN ATTITUDE DEFINED

HOSTILITY TO MOSCOW United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph -Oopvrlgbt LONDON, June 23. Herr von Ribbentrop (German Ambassador to Britain) has issued an official explanation of Germany’s attitude, stating that she disclaims territorial ambitions towards Spain, or the Spanish colonies, desiring only Spanish Independence. For this reason it should be the duty of European States to adopt a common attitude towards the appeals from Moscow in the direction of replacing the system of free states by International chaos tyrannised by the Soviet. Germany had consistently tried to confine the Spanish strife to the domestic ambit, but the action of Democratic states restricted this plan, especially regarding the supply of volunteers and material to Valencia. The attacks on German, Italian, and British ships at Palma had forced Germany to change her base to Ivlza, where the attack on the Deutschland compelled Germany, knowing the Committee would not take action, to adopt only natural reprisals. The communique reviews the British and French attitude, regarding a naval demonstration oft Valencia, and describes It as encouraging pirates In their criminal attacks. "Germany.” said the communique, "would not tolerate doubts of her statements on questions of fact. Moreover, inquiry would be futile." It was seml-officlally announced earlier that Germany had notified Britain that insistence on the Western Powers for inquiry before the naval demonstration was Incomprehensible, especially In view of the notorious untrustworthiness of the Bolshevists,

which had been particularly revealed in connection with the Deutschland incident.

Withdrawal From Patrol Scheme

The German Embassy announced that the German Government will not be willing to expose her naval forces entrusted to the international control task, for further target practice of Red Spain. Germany is limited to the minimum guarantee necessary to ensure the safety of her ships. When she requested a joint naval demonstration the Governments refused even this minimum request. Germany regrets to have to state that the spirit of solidarity is lacking among the control Powers, which is indispensable to the execution of a common international task. She has therefore, decided to withdraw finally from the control scheme.

The communique from Rome is phrased almost identically. It is stated in Rome that Italy now resumes the right of liberty of action in respect to acts of aggression.