PRESS APPEALS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 65, 17 March 1936, Page 7

PRESS APPEALS

WILL HITLER RESPOND? GREAT OPPORTUNITIES SIMPLE GESTURE NEEDED. 1 British Official Wirelew. I RUGBY, March 14. The outstanding features of the Press comment on the international situation are the eloquent appeals in leading articles in The Times and Daily Telegraph to Herr Hitler to rise to the greatness of his opportunity by making a contribution to appeasement. The Daily Telegraph says: “The procedure of appeal to the League Council which France has adopted presents Herr Hitler with the greatest opportunity a man could have for a glorious place in history. He can approach the League as he could approach no individual Power; he can concede to the public opinion of Europe everything that national pride might forbid him to offer to a single nation.” The Daily Telegraph says: “One simple gesture would transform Herr Hitler's figure in the eyes of his own generation from a menace to the leader of Europe in its progress towards higher civilisation. One step more is required—a withdrawal that could infringe in not the slightest degree the assertion of German sovereignty, but would preserve the sanctity of treaties and calm all Western Europe. To do that would open an era of hope which the perplexed world has not seen since 1914.” The Tinies says: “The proposals which the German leader has made have been widely welcomed in Britain as offering a chance to rebuild tire peace of the world on wider and super foundations, but they have been accompanied by an action which has ringed them with a barrier of doubt. Those who are most disposed to seize the opportunity offered of re-establish-ing European equality have most reason to invite the small contribution, temporary by its very nature, which is now necessary to remove the obstacle that Ire has himself created, and thus enable the negotiations to begin. There is no implication of any surrender of or restriction upon German sovereignty, for the negotiations would take place upon the basis of the complete recognition of Germany’s sovereignty and equality of rights.” Isolation and Encirclement. The 'l'imes points out that Germany’r threatened choice of honourable isolation is no more than condemning herself to self-encirclement, although it is of encirclement that her spokesmen so often complain. Press messages from Berlin indicati that the German reply to the invitation to the League Council sitting, which is expected io be delivered tomorrow, will be in the affirmative. The German Foreign Office, it is stated, is in touch with Herr Hitler, who wilt nominate the German representative tj attend the Council. According to the same reports, news nf the invitation was warmly welcomed by the German public. The meeting of the Locarno Powers, other than Germany, was resumed nt the Foreign Office on Saturday afternoon. Previously the British delegation had been in consultation with the Prime Minister and other members of Cabinet, A communique issued at the end of the meeting says: “'After a further exchange of views the committee of Ministers of the Powers signatory to and guarantors of the Locarno Treaty decided to hold the next meeting as soon as the Council of the League of Nations has reached its decision upon the communication submitted to it by the French and Belgian Governments. Press Comments. Comment on the international situation in to-day’s newspapers is affected y the uncertainty of the German reply ij the invitation to attend the League ouncil. Both “Scrutator” in the Sunday Times, and Mr. Garvin in the Observer, examine the crisis in. its implications and each in a different manner stresses that it is the supreme task before statesmen to avoid the dangers and seize the opportunities of the situation. The Sunday Times, in a leading article, joins in the appeal to the German Chancellor to make a gesture on the grounds that the issues boil down very largelv to a question of confidence. “Let it be repeated, it is not the German claim or German offer, but the German method which has made Europe’s present crisis so perilous.’’ Sir Austen Chamberlain and Mr. Winston Churchill both spoke on the crisis at Birmingham. Mr. Churchill, who declared that whatever befell there could be no question of England repudiating her solemn obligation®, urged that, in comformity with Hie French offer, the bearing on the Franco-Soviet Pact on the Locarno Treaties should be submitted to the World Court, but Germany must be ea- •; hi raged to place herself within the ■:w as a preliminary to all discussion rout the future. Sir Austen recalled the origins of :;?e Locarno Treaties, which, he said, weer a contribution more to the security of German than to France. What was at stake, he declared, was this: “Is there any international morality or law, or have we returned to the rule of force, in which the strongest does what he likes and the, weakest gees to the wall?’’ Foreign Secretary. Mr. Anthony Eden spent considerable Luio to-day with officials at the Foreign Office, but there were no formal Ministerial talks of any kind. Pending receipt by the Secretary-Gen-eral of the League in London of the German reply to the Council’s invitation. there has been a comparative lull in the negotiations. It is known that a'British member of the Council wi? one of those who gave the strongest support at yesterday ’s private meeting to the proposal that a special invitation be addressed to the German Government to take its part in an examination of the matter which has been brought before the League by the French and Belgian Governments, and it is understood that the British Ambassador at Berlin (Sir Eric Phipps) informed the German Government of the great importance which the British Government attaches to the acceptance of this invitation as facilitating the difficult negotiations and being an earnest of the. desire for an amicable settlement. News of the receipt of the German reply has therefore been eagerly awaited in London all day.