GERMAN TERMS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 53, 25 November 1937, Page 5

GERMAN TERMS

-PresS Assn.-

Return to League AMENDED COVENANT Free Hand in Austria Sought from Britain fZECH REORGANISATION

TBt Telesrtph-

-Covyrisfbt.

(Receive" 25, 8.45 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 24. The diplomatie eorrespondent of tbe Manchester Guardian thus summarises the Gennan demands as outlined to yisconnt Halifax by Herr Hitler:— (1) Germany is willing to rejoin the League on condition that the Covenant is redrafted, the sanctions cjauses are amended, every conpection between the League and peace treaties is severed, the war-guilt eJause canceDed and Italian sovereignty in Abyssinia recognised by Britain. (2) Britain to consent to the reerganisatipn of Czechoslovakia on jfche model of the Swiss federal system, with. "Sudeten Land" (the area between the Silesian boundary of Germany and the Bohemian boundary «f Czechoslovakia) receiving a status analogous to a Swiss canton. (3) Britain to pledge herself to refrain from giving Austria any diplomatie, political or military assistance. (4) Germany would pledge to refrain from Taising the colonial issue for six years of Britain in return would pledge herself to assist Germany in recovering her former colonies when the six years were over; Germany would promise not to establish naval or military bases in her former colonies. (5) Germany would promise to do her best in restoring peace in Spain when the British. Government had given de jure xecognition to tha Salamanca Government. (6) Germany would promise to do her best in restoring peace in tho Ear East. Germany also demands the^ revision bf minojities ueaties. Sudetanland is the region inhabited by the Sudetic Germany minority. • '"Aceeptance of the German proposals," says the Guardian, "will mean s crisis in the British and Erench proposals." In a leading article, the Guardian iays: "Britain clearly will not aceept a programme under which she is invited to barter her interests and duty in Ceutral Europe. She will be less disposed to do so when she reflects what acceptance would mean ttf European eountries which still look to Britain as a friend and champion in upholding international right and order. _ "What Germany demands is a free hand in Austria and Czechoslovakia. Althoagh Britain kas an interest in both eountries, Britain is virtually asked. to recognise Austria and Czechoslovakia as German spheres of interest." The Prime Minister, Mr Neville Chamberlain, told the House of Commons that he was Batisfied that Lord Halifax's visit to Germany had been valuable and had furthered the desire of both eountries for closer mutual understanding. The conversatiops, he added, were eonfidential, and the House could not expect a further statement, but no pledges had been given. Mr Chamberlain added that Erauco at present had not been informed of the details of the conversation, specnlations on which were irresponsible and highly inaccurate, It was understood that the conversations with Germany would at present remain eonfidential.