STRESA ACHIEVEMENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 89, 16 April 1935, Page 7

STRESA ACHIEVEMENT

THREE POWERS UNITED GERMANY’S NEW OFFER “A DEFINITE ADVANCE” ( British Official Wireless. I RUGBY, April Ju. It is anticipated that the ThreePower Conference at Stresa will end to-day, and that it will be found to have materially reduced European tension, which has been so marked during the last few weeks. The announcement, which Sir John Simon, British Foreign Minister, was able to make to the Conference as the result of further communications with Berlin to the effect that Germany is now willing to enter an Eastern Pact of non-aggression, is regarded by the British Press as marking a! definite advance. A suggestion on these lines was put forward by British Ministers during their recent visit to Berlin, but was not then regarded favourably by Herr Hitler. The suggestion, presumably, has been examined in greater detail in the interval, with the result that Germany feels herself able to make this contribution. One result to which the newspapers paint is that the German announcement makes the reeent negotiation of a Franco-Russian Paet of mutual assistance compatible with an Eastern Pact in which Germany can participate on the basis of non-aggression and non-support to aggressor. A satisfactory step forward also has been made in regard to next

week’s proceedings at Geneva. Three Powers have agreed, without prejudice, to the attitude of other Powers on the Ciw.iil to support a resolution, which, while recording the fact of Germany’s unilateral repudiation of the Versailles Treaty, would establish a ,'ommittee to study measures which can be taken in the event of future treaty infractions. BRITISH ATTITUDE statement issued. STRESA. U. The spokesman. in outlining the it.titude of the British delegation, emphasised that the German declaration of March 16 had altered Europe’s state of mind, partly modifying the willingness of the nations to make peace ano ‘’how confidence in one another. “We had made it clear here that we consider it a great moral dereliction of a people, with whom we were co-operat-ing and were willing to co-operate, to do such a thing, which came as a great •hock to France and Italy, but it is berond a shadow of doubt that they will be mutually helpful in promoting peace. We do not abandon any friends, but desire to enlarge oui circle of friends. Our declaration reaffirming the Locarno obligations is made equally to Germany and Belgium. ” MOST IMPORTANT MEETING CORRESPONDENT’S REMARKS. LONDON, April 14. The Daily Telegraph’s diplomatic correspondent, writing from Stresa say-? that the conference was the most important gathering of state, icn since ihe war and led to the foundation ol a system by which Europe from now onwards will seek to preserve peace The conference could fairly be de scribed as a triumph for British policy demonstrating the solid basis ol friendship and mutual reliance animat ing Britain, France and Italy. It was an inescapable fact that German re armament dominated the conference ’Ebe statesmen of the three Powers were perfectly frank in recognising thr great superiority on the land and ir the air over any other Europear Power. Britain maintained through out that peace could be achieved onlj by using the powerful machinery exist mg under the League Covenant. OFFICIAL STATEMENT POINTS OF AGREEMENT lume notable DECISIONS [ British Official Wireless. 1 RUGBY, April 13. At. Stresa to-day a meeting was held •it which the main business was forma: approval of the communique. in the opinion of the British delega lion the Conference has made a really substantial contribution towards clear, ing up the political tangle into which European affairs had of late degen erated. The dominating fact that haf emerged from the conversations is the »uity of views between the British J*r«nch. and Italian Governments, as well as their community of interests in the maintenance of European peace Jt was never contemplated that Britair would assume fresh commitments a the Conference, and she has not doni so, but the existing commitments have been so grouped and re-emphasised a; to give them more significance that thev might otherwise have seemed t( possess. The communique issued this after noon states that representatives of th< Governments of Italy, France and th( United Kingdom have examined th< whole European situation in the light of the recent exchanges of views ol Germany’s decision to re-arm and oj the information obtained by British Minister® during their recent visits tt various European capitals. Having considered the bearing of al these on the policies defined and th; arrangements made in London an j Rome, they found themselves in com plete agreement on the various matters

discussed. 1. They agreed upon a common line ; of action to be followed during the discussion of the French appeal to the League of Nations regarding German re-armament. 2. The information which they hnfe received has confirmed their views that negotiations should be pursued to develop security in Eastern Europe. 3. They examined afresh the Austrian situation and confirmed the Anglo-French-ltalian attitude which shall be taken in the event of a breach of the integrity of Austria. They agreed to recommend that the repre- ; sentatives of all the Governments 'enumerated, in the Rome Protocol -huuld meet at a very early date with I view to concluding a Central Euro ' • ;m agreement. 1. As regards the proposed air pact : ■>r Western Europe they confirmed the , principles and procedure of the dech rations in which the three Governments i j recognised that the maintenance of the I independence and integrity of Aus:ria | should continue to inspire their c-m mon policies. Regarding the Franco-Italian p.oto col of January 7 and the Anglo-Froncik declaration of February 3, in which the decision was reaffirmed to consult together as to the measu es to be followed, it was agreed to continue actively to study the question with a view to drafting a pact between the five Powers mentioned in the London Communique and any others that may be added to it by bilateral agreements. The communique then goes on to state that representatives of the three Powers took careful note of the report made by Sir John Simon on his visit to Herr Hitler in Berlin. It was regretfuly recognised that repudiation by the German Government of the clauses of the Treaty of Versailles had occurred at the same time as negotiations | were in progress for the settlement of i the armament question, and that this i was harmful to the cause of peace. In a special paragraph of the com- ■ m unique mention is made of the fact ! that Great Britain and Italy reaffirmed j their engagements under the Locarno I Treaties, and would faithfully fulfil | them. ’ Finally the three Powers pledged themselves to collective maintenance of peace and condemned unilateral breach of treaties. The communique is to be communicated to Belgium and Germany. EVERYONE PLEASED A CHORUS OF APPROVAL. STRESA, April 11. Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, British 1 Prime Minister, declares that the ConI ference has made a lasting contribution to European peace. AL Laval. French Foreign Minister, j re-echoed his gratification. M. Flandin, the French Premier. ; paid a tribute to the valuable aid of ' England and Italy. The Italian spokesman considers the ' Alpine frontier was secure. j The Pope regards the outcome or ( the Stresa Conference with satisfacI tion. EUROPE TO-DAY SAFE AS WORDS CAN MAKE IT , Received April 15, 3.5 p.m. LONDON, April 15. Mr. Ward Price, cabling to the Daily Mail from Stresa, says: “The world is as safe as words can make it, but Britons should not delude themselves into thinking that 31 days of wordspinning has changed the facts of the situation. The scene has now shifted to Geneva, where a condemnation of Germany’s breach of the Versailles Treaty will be formally registered, though probably Germany will not be mentioned by name.” The Tinies in a leader, says: “Collective diplomacy has justified itself at Stresa. even if the perfect system is only dimly outlined. A conference of Powers has at least renewed contact with the principal absentee.” The Times’ Stresa correspondent says: “Well-informed opinion states that while Britain has undertaken no new and has extended no old commit merits, she has collected and. presented existing ones in a form more effective than if read separately. Her policy was not to exchange friends, but to increase friendship among them in order to maintain and promote peace. The divergences of views of members attending the conference is everywhere acknowledged as of minor importmce.”