PARLEY IN BERLIN.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20238, 23 February 1934, Page 1

PARLEY IN BERLIN.

British Minister Meets German Officials. DISARMAMENT DISCUSSIONS. British Official Wireless. (Received February 23, 12.30 pin.) RUGBY, February 22. A communique issued in Berlin tonight states: “Conversations between Captain Anthony Eden. Lord PrivySeal, and members of the German Government on the subject of disarmament were concluded to-dav. “ In the course of his stay in Berlin, Captain Eden lias had two long talks with the Chancellor, Ilerr Hitler, and several conversations with Baron von Neura a . Foreign Minister. The conversations were conducted in a frank and friendly spirit and have shown that both Governments are united in the desire to arrive at a general agreement on this subject as soon as possible. “ Though it was not part of the object of the conversations to arrive at a definite agreement as to the contents of the Disarmament Convention, the joint exploration of the question which has taken place has brought about a fuller understanding, and it is therefore lelt that, in spite of the difficulties which will stand in the way -of the Conclusion of a Disarmament Convention, some progress had been made ” Captain Eden was to-day received b>President von Hindenburg, and will proceed to Rome to-morrow morning. V atican Concerned Over Hitler’s Tactics. LONDON. February 16. Ihe fact that Catholic newspapers have been compelled by the Nazi administration to publish sterilisation propaganda, and that young Catholics in youth organisations have been forced to attend inter-denominational services, which Catholicism forbids, is causing the Vatican concern. Although the Pope declares that he is still optimistic that differences will be settled, he admits openly that the Church is experiencing a most difficult time, says the Rome correspondent of “ The Times.” One of the greatest grievances is the Reich’s failure to accept or modify the Vatican’s list of recognised Catholic organisations, which was an important point of the Concordat. There is also a wide divergence of view on matters of doctrine and law on which the Church is not prepared to consent or remain silent, such as sterilisation, the Vatican holding that the Concordat, in preventing priests from joining political parties, does not imply limitation on their explanation of tke Church’s dogmatical and moral doctrines, which is believed responsible for frequent arrests. liitler has dismissed Catholic teachers belonging to the Centre Party, and has substituted Nazis, to whose organisation Catholics previously had not been allowed to belong. The result has been that Catholic requirements are not being sufficiently understood, leading tg severe restrictions. Another complaint is that members of youth organisations are not allowed sufficient time for religious duties. It is believed that Hitler does not wish to destroy the Concordat, which he regards as one of his successes, but that his colleagues are working against it. There is also fundamental conflict upon racial distinction, and the Vatican is bitterly opposed to the Nazi rejection of the Old Testament and modification of the New Testament, points upon which the Pope will not yield an inch.