POSITION NOT EASED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 May 1939, Page 5

POSITION NOT EASED

BY HITLER’S REICHSTAG SPEECH CONSIDERED OPINIONS IN LONDON. FUEHRER’S ASSERTIONS CORRECTED. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 1. World commentary on Herr Hitler’s speech (at the opening of. the Reichstag) confirms the first reading of the speech, that it of- . j fers no perceptible contribution to easing of international tension. For all practical purposes what emerges from the speech is that two treaties have been terminated. As far as Britain is concerned it is unlikely that there will be any reply to the speech, apart from an acknowledgment of the abrupt ending of the Naval Agreement. It is in accordance with the usual procedure that, when Herr Hitler arbitrarily denounces a treaty, he declares his readiness to negotiate a new onb. But it is agreed in London, that no useful purpose would be served in negotiating for a new bilateral treaty to replace the Naval Treaty. It is pointed out that, contrary to Herr Hitler’s assertion, Germany’s comprehensive proposals to Poland were not rejected. Poland replied by submitting alternatives. The ■ decision to do so was taken solely on Polish responsibility and without consultation with Britain. Herr Hitler used as a pretext for his denunciation of the treaty the existence of AngloPolish defensive assurances, which are declared to constitute a Polish violation of the treaty. In fact these assurances were exchanged after Poland’s attitude had already been made clear and in London it is recognised that the preliminary agreement over Danzig shows that Poland, while refusing to yield to an ultimatum or force, was prepared to negotiate with Germany on reasonable terms on the subject.