Complete Equality Sought

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 55, 27 November 1937, Page 5

Complete Equality Sought

-Press Assn.-

GERMANY'S DEMAND Status Must Be Removed from Versailles Basis PEACEFUl RESTITUTION

fB* Telearabh-

-Copyriglit.J

(Received 27, 8.45 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 26. Lord Halifax's visit to Berlin is stil > regarded as proinising, says Tbe Times Berlin correspondent. The first BritishGerman coutacts, he said, have succeeded in giving an impressioii of sympathy and fairiiess without Lord Halifax's Committing himself to approval or disapproval of the Germao views. and it is koped tbat the friendly atmosphere created will not be dissipated before tb& timo comes to discuss concrete protdems on. a more ofliciaL basis. Official German commentators, however, are not unduly optimistic. They emphasise that the main eonsideration is that British-German relations must be removed from the Versailles basis to ono of complete equality of rights. Herr Hitler's declared policy is to obtain the restitutions Germauy desires peacel'ully, but any attempt to keep Uermany in a collective straightjacket on the pretext that she cannot be trusted caq only, in the German view, provoke an explosion. It. is realised that Britain cannot act regardless of her relations with France, but it is argued that it would be both simple and advantageous for Britain to come to an agreement.with Germany which would be compatible with British .nterests. If Britain acknowledged Germany's right to her former colonies, she would not, it js stated, be harrassed for their immediate return. Moreover, if Britain agreed that Germany should enjoy a privileged position in centrai and southeastern JEurope she could be certain of Continentul peace and have a fre© hand to attend to the interests of tbe Em pire which, as Germany sees it, is menaced at so many points. The Prime Minister, Mr Neville Chamberlain, announced in the House of ' Commons that the visit of Yiscount Halifax to Germany would be one of the matters to be discussed with M. ChaUtemps, the Erench Premifer, on his forthcoming visit to London. No agreement or understanding with Germany which might affect the seeurity of Erance or he; allies was contemplated. The diplomatic correspondent of the Daily Telegrapb understands that Viscount Halifax is to participate in the Anglo-Prench discussions in London, giving his impressions of his talks with Herr Hitler. The Spanish war doubtless will also be mentioned in the London conversations, but ratlier from the angle of Mediterranean seeurity than that of the hostilities themselves. Neither London nor Paris believes that the time for mediation has been reached. Conaequently there is no desire to vary the procedure of the Non-Intervention Committee. Discussions may be directed to harmonising the policy regarding the. conflict in China.