BOUND BY TREATIES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 64, 16 March 1936, Page 7

BOUND BY TREATIES

ATTITUDE OF BRITAIN MUST SUPPORT FRANCE AND BELGIUM FAILURE WOULD SPLIT CABINET CAN GERMANY RETREAT? [By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) i.iviuved Alarch 15, 6.55 p.m. LONDON. March 14. The Daily Telegraph’s diplomatic correspondent says: “I am assured that were the British Government to decide that it would not stand by France and Belgium, the Cabinet would split from top to bottom. The Ministers have Deen further influenced by a more accurate estimate of the German forces in the Rhineland available yesterday. From reliable sources it is learned that 30,000 regulars marched into th? Rhineland last week-end, to which be added the 30,000 members of the Labour Corps trained for milita y work, who arc reported as being armed and incorporated in the regulars. There are also in the Rhineland 150,000 Storm Troops in semi-military formation and between 8000 and 10,000 members of the Austrian Legion, as well as a number of motor-car units. Faced with with force, France is arguing that she may be compelled to mobilise a number of units on the frontier. She is also pressing Belgium and Britain to jo :, i her in a new Locarno Pact of mutual assistance with Immediate staff consultations. s The London Times says that Al. van Zeeland submitted a report to the conference of Locarno signatories, dis'-us-sion of which occupied most of the conference’s time. It embraced: (1) A unanimous recognition of Germany’s violation of frecly-ac-cepted treaty obligations. (2) A unanimous agreement by the delegations that the crisis must not become a step on the road to war. (3) The question of a British contribution towards the security of the western Powers, particularly France and Belgium, now isolated from Germany by her action. The Telegraph understands that the British Government is drafting proposals for a European peace incorporating all Herr Hitler’s suggestions, for consideration as soon as a basis of negotiation can be established between the Locarno Powers and Germany. The majority of the British Afinister’s. however, are insistent that Germany must order the substantial withdrawal of the Rhineland forces as a condition towards negotiations. The Times’ Berlin correspondent says that the. general view is that Germany will neither withdraw her troops from the Rhineland nor'surrender to a show of force, however overwhelming. In the Rhineland, as the Germans see it. ji is a question of their fundamental riphts as a nation. Military action, it is believed, would mean a. European disaster and many think that sanctions would not be much bette”. Two questions, therefore, are anxiously being asked: Firstly, whether a German action constituting no military threat to anyone must becom? the cause of a. European war? or secondly, whether a formula can be found by which Germany can help regularise her position in the Rhineland without being compelled to give way on the question of honour. Secret Conversations Rome reports that iSignor XLussulini has had repeated conversations with the French and British Ambassadors, but no inkling of .the Italian attitude has been allowed to leak out. The Sun-Herald n .vs agency says that scores of thousands of French troops have completed the manning of the Maginot Line, which, with the “turrets of death” and the chain of underground fortifications of steel and concrete, constitutes the strongest defences in history, and cost nearly £100,000,000. The Daily Alail’s Metz correspondent reports that the French are carryout out military exercises, based on plans covering a month, in which the full resources of the defences will be tested. A network of communications keeps the batteries informed ol’ movement of oncoming warplanes. Military experts are convinced that the line al present is impregnable and not crossable either by land or by air. The Paris correspondent of The Times says authoritative source.- declare that nothing will induce France to renounce her light to oppose the violation of the Locarno Treaty, which is regarded as a keystone of security. German Public Bewildered The correspondent of The Times in Berlin says that Germany is following the London talks with increasing nervousness. Official quarters have realised that the position is grave, but so far as Press control has made it possible this was concealed from the public until this afternoon, when it was admitted that England’s efforts are being directed primarily towards prevention of military action by France. These words must come as a shock to the public, who hitherto have had complete faith in England to see Germany through the difficulty caused by the reoccupation. It does not seem to have occurred to the public that England herself is placed in a difficult position. Ridiculous as it seems, masses of people,have believed Herr Hitler did not remilitarise the Rhineland without the prior sanction of England. It is natural, therefore, that the public are bewildered. Earlier in the week they would have laughed at the idea that the sending of a few troops into their own territory created a risk of war.