THREATS BY GERMANY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 63, 14 March 1936, Page 9

THREATS BY GERMANY

REFUGE IN ISOLATION WITHDRAWAL OF OFFERS DEMAND FOR SYMPATHETIC CONSIDERATION Received March 13, 5.5 p.m. BERLIN, March 12. The Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung gives prominence to an article described as • 4 coming from a special quarter” warning the Locarno Powers that if there is any further condemnation of Germany she will deliver her final blow at the League, as Herr Hitler will never consent to return to it. The German Government has issued a long memorandum threatening to take refuge in isolation unless HenHitler’s proposals and his reasons for withdrawing from Locarno are sympathetically considered. The memorandum asserts that Germany has not challenged France’s frontier fortifications or the alliances with Belgium, Poland, and Cz-eeho--slovakia, but that the Franco-Russian alliance is of a peculiar character in view of the fact that the Russian philosophic system aims at world revolution. Germany reiterates that her reoccupation of the Rhineland is only symbolic, and offers to refrain from amplification of the occupation provided the French and Belgian Governments adopt a conciliatory attitude. Germany, however, \yill never agree to permanent conditions involving renunciation of her sovereign rights, and in the event of Germany’s proposals not being accepted, the Government will withdraw’ the entire offer. The memorandum emphasises that France has built the greatest known belt of fortresses along a frontier which has as guarantors of its invulnerability Britain, Italy, Belgium, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Russia, and France itself, whose combined wartime strength was 30,000,000 men, yet in face of that France declares she wants for the preservation of her security a demilitarised zone in Germany which is open to any attack, and argues that nineteen battalions of Germans threaten French security. Germany undertook this insignificant occupation only to remove from French minds any fear of Germany putting Fiance under pressure to induce her to negotiate under humiliating circumstances. Germany could have declared the Locarno Treaty not binding, withdrawn from all European co-operation, renounced the demilitarisation of the Rhine, and relied on her own national resources, but this would only further the negative division of Europe, so she preferred a constructive plan of pacification on the Continent. Only treaties signed under such free | conditions as harmonise with the nation’s ideal of honour can honourably be observed, the memorandum states, and in so far as Germany is concerned the will be kept just as honourably. PRESS OPINION APPEAL TO GERMANY WITHDRAWAL OF TROOPS GESTURE TO THE WORLD j LONDON, March 12. : The Gravity of the crisis is fully rei dected in newspaper comment. J The Times states: —‘‘The legality ; of the charge against Germany and of the invocation of contingent guaran- | tees is not in dispute. i'he nations i that met in London to-day have no issue to try. The question for their combined statesmanship is primarily political. They are more than judges tied to a statute. They have to decide I what action—since action is inanii festly justified and necessary—will, in their discretion, contribute most to reI pair the damage done to all Elates by the open repudiation of one, and at the I same time to promote a sense of settlei ment which treaties exist to create.” The Times congratulates the Bcc- ■ retary of State for Foreign Affairs ! i Mr.’ Anthony Eden) on the transfer of the Locarno Powers conference to London, and points out that it has equally satisfied Paris and Berlin. There can be nothing but gratitude for the studied moderation of the French Prime Minister (M. Sarraut). Every source of opinion in Britain agrees that a breach of the treaty has arisen. •A Great Opportunity” The Daily Telegraph states:—‘‘ Nothing could give such meaning and solidity to Herr Hitler’s expressed desire for a long term of peace in the West as to follow up the symbolic occupation of German territory by the symbolic evacuation before any demand is made. There would be in that withdrawal more than a magnificent gesture. It would be a practical assertion of the German desire for the inauguration of a regime of European friendship, giving confidence in her adherence to any undertaking she might then sign. We do not underrate the courage that such a reversal of policy would require on the part of the leader of the German people, but a dictatorship would be meaningless could it net on the occasion rise to the height of a great opportunity.” The Daily Herald appeals to Herr Hitler to make a gesture of withdrawal, pending negotiation, wtiich would immeasurably strengthen his moral position at the Council table and in the eyes of the world, and it appeals to the French Premier not to insist that this step be taken. “Whoever makes the gesture which clears the wav for negotiations will earn the gratitude of the world. Whoever refuses, would, if folly and obstinacy were tu triumph, bear the blame for whatevei consequences might follow,’ the paper adds. the News-Chronicle strongly urges a gesture by Germany, but says that this, or, in its absence, any action taken by the League by way of condemnation, should be regarded as only a preliniinarv to the full and fair recognition of her claim to equality and , its establishment by proper means, followed by the immediate consideration of Herr’ Hitler's offer of appeasement on the widest terms of reference.