POLITE DOCUMENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 109, 9 May 1936, Page 9

POLITE DOCUMENT

QUESTIONS TO HITLER SINCERE RESPONSE HOPED RELATIONS WITH NEIGHBOURS [ British Official Wireless. ] RUGBY, May 7. Sir Eric Phipps, British Ambassador in Berlin, this afternoon communicated to the German Foreign Minister the questions which the British Government has formulated with a view to elucidating certain points in the proposals for European settlement put forward by Herr Hitler’s Government in the recent memoranda. The British inquiries have been carefully considered, and are framed in the spirit indicated in the Foreign {Secretary’s speech in the House of Commons debate last night, when he said that the objective of the Government in these exchanges remained what it had always been, namely, “to make of a period of crisis a period of opportunity.” The Times’ Berlin correspondent states that semi-official circles describe the British document as polite, but complicated. For the present it is not being published, but it is understood that it consists of seven or eight type-writ-ten sheets whioh. contain many crostrefercnces to three of the German proposals made during March. It especially refers to the constructive side of Herr Hitler’s policy, a form of running commentary on which is inteispersed with friendly’ inquiries so framed as to induce a sincere response by the sincerity of the manner in which they are imiae, and also offers tentative interpretations of Herr Hitler’s public statements. Herr Hi tier will Lc asked whether the definitions and conditions he outlined to Sir John Simon last year are still valid, and although he will not directly be asked whether he will abstain from future repudiation of. engagements or whether the Rhineland demilitarisation is the last so-called inequality, information is sought concerning Germany’s relations with her neighbours, German colonial ambitions, and how t’iv Covenant ami the Peace Treaties arc best separable. Germany is ready to discuss the queslions orally, but a’written reply would take soma time to prepare, and would not be ready before t’.ia League Council Meeting on May 11. BRITISH MANDATES QUESTIONS IN COMMONS I Britv/i OfflclaT Wireless. ] RUGBY, May 7. •The Prime Minister, asked a question in the House of Commons to allay anxieties expressed in a recent declare tiou by professional, business, and public men in Tanganyika regarding alarm among European, Indian and native inhabitants caused by uncertainty as to the attitude of the British Government on the future of the mandtte, replied by recalling a categoricaj statement he had made on April 27 that the Government had not considered, and was not considering, the transfer of any mandated territory. The Dominions Secretary likewise recalled this statement in reply to a suggestion that he should enter into consultation with the Dominion Governments with a view to a uniform declaration of policy regarding the future of mandated territories. M. G. L. M. Mander (Liberal) asked whether it was not clear that there was now a divergence of Empire policy regarding mandates, and whether consultation with the Dominions with a view to a united policy was not desirable. Mr. Malcolm MacDonald did not reply.