ENDING CONFLICT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 December 1938, Page 8

ENDING CONFLICT

STATEMENT BY RIBBENTROP ON PACT WITH FRANCE

SETTING ASIDE HISTORIC PREJUDICES. UNANIMOUS APPROBATION ANTICIPATED. Gy Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day, 12.45 p.m.) PARIS, December 6. Herr von Ribbentrop issued a statement that France and Germany, taking account of the solid basic constituted by the friendship binding them to other States, had agreed to end secular frontier conflicts, and, by reciprocally recognising their territory, to facilitate the road to the mutual recognition and consideration of their vital national interests as partners with equal rights. “France and Germany,” he said, “declare themselves, after their serious differences, ready to establish relations on a ‘bon voisinage’ for the future. With this declaration of goodwill they express the conviction that no opposition exists of a vital nature to justify a serious conflict of economic interests. I am convinced that the declaration will serve to set aside historic prejudices, and that the agreement on neighbourly relations expressed by the declaration will find unanimous approbation, not only among the leaders, but also among the people. I hope the declaration will open a new era in the relations of our peoples.

M. BONNET CONCURS BASIS FOR CO-OPERATION ESTABLISHED. COMMON DESIRE FOR PEACE. (Received This Day, 1.0 p.m.) PARIS, December 6. • The French Foreign Minister (M. Bonnet), in a statement, said the efforts of the French Government had always been sincerely inspired with the aim of maintaining and organising peace. The arrangement of relations between France and Germany and the expression of their common desire to develop peaceful relations would constitute essential elements in this undertaking. “That is why I am very glad, at the signature of a declaration which, by solemnly recognising the existing frontiers, ends a long, historic debate and opens the way to collaboration, which must be facilitated by a conviction ■ that there is no difference of a nature questioning the peaceful basis of their relations,” said M. Bonnet. “The declaration marks a most important stage of the work of co-op-eration, and reconciliation in which France ardently hopes to see all peoples associated.”