WHAT GUARANTEE?

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 67, 19 March 1936, Page 7

WHAT GUARANTEE?

HERR HITLER’S OFFERS SPEECH BY LORD CECIL [ British Official Wirakat. J RUGBY, March 17. Lord Cecil, in a broadcast speech to the United States last night, expressed the view that Germany’s reoccupation of the Rhineland should, as the first step, be referred to the Hague Court. * Referring to Herr Hitler’s offers of a twenty-five years’ non-aggression pact, he recalled that Germany was already bound by the Briand-Kellogg Pact never to use war as an instrumet of ational policy. Regarding the offer of agreeing to a fresh demilitarised zone, he asked what security was there that Herr Hitler would not at some future time march into such new zone. The recent secret and sudden increase in the German Air Force and Germany’s earlier abrupt withdrawal from the League of Nations were incidents which must be remembered in considering Herr Hitler’s offer for the partial limitation of air forces and his willingness to rejoin the League. THE NEGOTIATIONS A LARGE DELEGATION EXPEDITION URGED LONDON, March 17. The Locarno Powers met secretly at 11 a.ni. and adjourned at 12.30 p.m. until after this afternoon’s Council meeting. It is understood that Mr. Eden handed the conference a document containing proposals relating to the application of the Locarno 'treaty to present circumstances. The French delegation had a conference concerning the document at their hotel after the adjournment of the conference. It is understood that M. Flandin communicated the British suggestions to the French Government. The Locarno Powers will meet again at 10 o’clock to-night. Mr. Eden, after a private conversation with M. Flandin, communicated I with Berlin. ; After a short private meeting, the I League Council held a secret session Ito discuss the outcome of Mr. Eden s I direct conversations with the German ! Foreign Office this morning. It is unI derstood that Germany asked for moi I precise details as to the basis of equffl- ' itv on which she is invited, and a.so (demanded assurances tnat Herr HitI [er s proposa. s would be discussed. I France, however, is not prepared to i a"ree to such assurances unless she j o trains some satisfaction from GerI many. . It is announced that Germany has I agreed to send representatives to LonI don ou March 19, provided the Locarno i Powers agree to discuss Herr Hitler’s I proposals. I lhe German Ambassador, Dr. von Hoesch, communicated to tne President of the League Council, Mr. fStani lev Bruce, at the secret Council meet-; | ing Herr Hitler’s reply, which, it is; I understood, very briefly accepted the invitation to attend the Council meet-1 ing, and stated that Herr Ribbentrop, will attend he Council on Thursday. lln the meantime, Dr. von Hoesch has I been •• placed al the disposal of the ! Council. ’ ’ The German delegation will come ;to London by air. Besides Herr KibI bentrop, it will consist of liiteen to | twenty Foreign Office experts, interpreters and secretaries. The secret session of the Council lasted an honur. lit opening the public session of the Council, Mr. Bruce ' read a telegram from Benin accepting •the invitat.on, and said: “I have asked I Dr. von Hoesch to urge the German i Government to expedite the arrival of the delegation so that it will attend the meeting of the Council to-morrow. Meanwhile, on behalf of the Council, 1 have asked Dr. von Hoesch to sit here to-night as an observer or a delegate.” DELICATE STAGE ‘ DISCUSSIONS OF LOCARNO POWERS Received Marell IS, 9.20 p.m. LONDON, Marell 18. The Locarno Powers’ meeting ended at 12.30 a.m. The delegates will meet I again at 12.15 p.m. A high British authority admitted that the Powers had not yet agreed I among themselves regarding their proI gramme. “ A most delicate state has I now been reached, and the next 48 I hours will show whether an agreement is possible,” he added. The objective was a new and lasting settlement for western Europe, but there must be firstly a measure of agreement among I the Locarno Powers other than Germany. That agreement would in no wav be directed against Germany, but | it was an essential preliminary to any : aggrement into which they hoped GerI manv and the others would eventually come. HITLER'S SUCCESS | AT LONDON CONFERENCE WILD BE REFLECTED AT ELECTIONS. I Received March 18, 9.57 p.m. BERLIN, March 17. | Political circles were all smiles tonight at what is regarded as Herr Uitif’s success in securing representation at the London Conference. It :s believed that the country will reflect the feeling at the elections with an almost 100 per cent, vote for the Nazi candidates. • There also is hope that Germany’s financial difficulties will be relieved by a substantial foreign loan, for which it is believed the way already has been prepared by an exchange of visits between German and English bankers. The German delegation to the League Council meeting will total about 30, and will include, besides Herr »un Kibbentrop, Herr Dieckhotf. head of the political depaitment of the Foreign Office, who spent several years in the T.ofidoii Embassy after tho war.