THE AUSTRO-GERMAN CUSTOMS AGREEMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 77, 31 March 1931, Page 1

THE AUSTRO-GERMAN CUSTOMS AGREEMENT.

DETAILS ARE GIVEN OF BRITISH NEGOTIATIONS. (United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) / (Received March 31, 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, March 30. Mr Arthur Henderson, in the House of Commons, recounted the course of events and the action taken and contemplated by the British Government regarding the proposed Austro-GermAfi Customs Union. The method and time chosen by the Austrian and German Governments for conveying the information to the other interested Governments, he said, had rightly provoked widespread comment. The method was calculated to cause suspicions and nullify the advantages for the frank exchange of ideas offered by the now frequent meetings at Geneva and elsewhere between representatives of the various Governments. It was apparent that hurried decisions were not compatible with the nature of the case, but that points of law were involved which demanded expert advice and mature deliberation. France Perturbed. In Paris he had found French opinion in a state of very natural perturbation. He decided to inform the German and Austrian Governments that they should be under no misapprehension as to the serious misgivings aroused in many countries, France in particular. Though there might be two opinions as to the exact conformity of the proposed treaty with the existing obligations of Austria and Germany, the widespread state of feeling caused him great concern. If nothing was done to calm the apprehensions, the task of those anxious that the Disarmament Conference should meet under the most favourable conditions would be seriously compromised. Any apparent disregard, by unilateral action, of the interpretation of any treaty obligations would prejudice the success of the Conference. He caused these considerations to be submitted to the German and Austrian Chancellors, and appealed to them that, before they proceeded further, opportunity should be given to the League Council, under whose aus- 1 pices the Protocol of 1922 was nego-| tiated, to assure itself that the proposed treaty was not contrary to the obligations undertaken by Austria in that instrument. Should League Interfere. M. Briand had assured him that the procedure he contemplated would fully meet the view of the French Government. Fie received the reply of the Austrian Government to the effect that they were of opinion that the proposed agreement was quite in conformity with the Geneva Protocol of 1922. They did not object to the legal aspect of it being examined by Governments which signed the Geneva Protocol. The Austrian Government had no intention of facing the other Governments with a fait accompli. The German Government replied that the Austro-German agreement was entirely within the framework of the Geneva Protocol of October 4. 1922. Therefore there was no reason why the League Council should take up the matter. The two Governments had nothing to fear if the other Governments proceeded to examination of the judicial aspect of the question, but the German Government could not admit the examination of the agreement by the League Council from the political standpoint, as the agreement was ol a purely economic character Mr Henderson regarded the Austrian answer as less open to question than the German answer, which might be . e r,. to irn P’y that examination of the juridical aspect of the question would have to be conducted without their cooperation, and expressed his intention of continuing the negotiations with Austria in the meantime.