AERIAL PACT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 32, 7 February 1935, Page 5

AERIAL PACT

WORLD-WIDE INTEREST FEELING IN GERMANY CONTRIBUTION TO PEACE CHAMBERLAIN'S APPEAL [British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Feb. 5. In authoritative London circles the view is expressed that the reception given in Germany. Italy, and Belgium to the Anglo-French proposals is of generally favourable character. None of the Governments concerned has as yet completed its examination of the document, and no definite reply is expected from any one of them for some days. The proposal that emerged from :he Anglo-French Ministerial conversations in London that, as a deterrent against unprovoked aerial aggression by one country on another, there should be a reciprocal regional agreement, has aroused world-wide interest. In the countries which were parties to the Locarno Treaties, namely, France, Germany, Italy and Belgium, the immediate reactions are reported to be favourable. The Belgian Cabinet gave the proposal its approval at a special meeting yesterday, and, although the German Government has not so far given any formal indication of its view, there is no lack of goodwill, ind, according to newspaper correspondence from Berlin, there is i general feeling that the opporunity to make valuable contribuion towards the peace of Europe nust not be allowed to pass. In Italy the Anglo-French understanding has inet with a cordial reception. A Happy Augury. Reference to the results of the weekend conversations m London was made in a speech at tho Anglo-Polish Circle dinner last night by Sir Austen Chamberlain, who, as one of the authors of the Locarno Powers. He greeted it as qualified to express an opinion on the proposal for a further accord among the Locarno Powers. He gretted it as a happy augury that the provisional agreement was made in the Locarno spirit, which was that any agreement should be negotiated freely among all Powers concerned, and that no single Power should be confronted by a settlement to which the others had already agreed. He rejoiced to learn that Herr Hitler had at last given a promise of serious consideration to this new proposal, and trusted that he would associate his Government with those of the other countries which had been invited to adhere. There was no factor before tke war that poisoned so much the relations between nations as the idea which was current in Germany that a policy of en■irclement was being pursued by other Powers. Recently, he had seen signs hat this feeling w r as growing up again. If his words would reach German ears, he would beg them to consider the alternative. If they would enter into mutual and reciprocal pacts of security, freely negotiated as among equals, there would be no encirclement of Germany, there could be no international agreement against Germany, but there would be a general agreement among alj Powers. If one Power refused to entar into those common agreements ans mutual guarantees, if it repelled approaches made in a genuine spirit of friendship, could it complain If it fouijd itself isolated? He hoped that in this new proposed agreement a real advance in the pacific relations of nation® would be found to he made. FIRST ESS»TIAL EQUALITY ALB ROUND. OFFHTAL GERMAN VIEW. BERLIN, Feb. 5. The Government organ, the Voel kische Beobachter says: ‘‘We are con vineed that a general agreement con eluded in perfect freedom between Germany and other Powers would be ar. important step forward provided equally for both sides is guaranteed from he beginning. This is a preliminary •ondition under which alone negotiaiions can yield results.” SHOULD BE CONSULTED Ay—ITUDE OE JAPAN Received Feb. 6. 10.50 p.in. TOKIO. Feb. 6. Referring to the possible amendment of the Versailles military restrictions affecting Germany as a result of the Anglo-French conversations, the Foreign Spokesman said that the Japanese Government naturally expects to be consulted, because she was , a signatory to the treaty. ,