OUTLINE OF GERMAN DEMANDS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20894, 25 November 1937, Page 7

OUTLINE OF GERMAN DEMANDS

AMAZING OFFERS TO BRITAIN TREE HAND SOUGHT IN EUROPE DENOUNCED IN PRESS CRITICISM United Frees Association—By Electrto Telegraph—Copyright (Received November 24, 8.15 p.m.) LONDON, November 24. The diplomatic correspondent of “The Manchester Guardian” thus summarises the German demands, as outlined to Lord Halifax by Herr Hitler:— (1) Germany Is willing to rejoin the League of Nations, on condition that the Covenant is redrafted, the sanctions clauses are amended, every connection between the League of Nations and the peace treaties is severed, the war guilt clause cancelled and Italian sovereignity in Abyssinia recognised by Britain; (2) Britain to consent to the reorganisation of Czecho-Slovakia, on the model of the Swiss federal system, with “Sudetanland” receiving the status analogous to the Swiss Canton; (3) Britain to pledge herself to refrain from giving Austria any diplomatic, political or military assistance; (4) Germany pledges to refrain from raising the colonial issue for six years, if Britain, in return, will pledge herself to assist Germany in recovering her former colonies, when the six years arc over. Germany promises not to establish naval or military bases in her former colonies; (5) Germany promises to do her best in restoring peace in Spain, when the British Government has given de jure recognition to the Salamanca Government; (6) Germany promises to do her best in restoring peace in the Far East. Germany also demands the revision of the minorities treaties. “Sudetanland” is a region inhabited by the Sudetic German minority. Britain's Plain Duty “The acceptance of the German proposals.” says "The Manchester Guardian, “will mean a crisis in British and French proposals.” In a leading article, “The Manchester Guardian’’ says: "Britain clearly will not accept a programme under which she is invited to barter her interests and duty in Central Europe. Britain will be less disposed to do so, when she reflects what that acceptance would mean to the European countries, which still look to Britain as a friend and champion in upholding international right and order. What Germany demands is a free hand in Austria and Czecho-Slovakia, although Britain has interest in both countries. Britain is virtually asked to recognise Austria and Czecho-Slovakia as German ‘spheres of interest.’”

ANGLO-FRENCH POLICY IMPORTANT DISCUSSIONS PROCEEDING United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received November 24, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, November 24. The diplomatic correspondent of "The Daily Telegraph” says: "The questions of colonies, Austria, Czechoslovakia, and the general central European situation will be included in the London discussions with M. Chautemps (French Prime Minister) and M. Delbos (French Foreign Minister). All these questions figured in the talks between Herr Hitler and Lord Halifax. Herr Hitler is believed to have emphasised that if the British and French Governments did not interfere in the Danubian questions, Germany would not strive for territorial expansion, and would refrain from a resort to the use of physical force. It is understood that Germany is demanding the immediate recognition of her right to own colonies, but will not press for a return of the territories taken from her, at least until the various central European problems have been satisfactorily settled.