FEAR OF WAR

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19880, 8 May 1936, Page 7

FEAR OF WAR

INTERNATIONAL SITUATION STOCKTAKING GY BRITAIN, MOMENTOUS DECISIONS AHEAD. United Pr«M A—n—-*lec. Tel. CepyneM* .Received May 8. 11.25 ijb ) LONDON. May 7. Tha diplomatic corraapondant of tho Manchester Guardian say* tha phraaa “ period of atooktaking," circulated with offiotal approval, aooma to indioata that tho Oovornmont la rovlowlng tho wholo International aituatlon preparatory to making momentous decisions. It la now realised that tha Oontlnantal sanctions countries, with tho osoeption of Yugoslavia, hod only ono thing In common namely, fear of Germany. They considered Italy essential t# the defence of the status quo in CobI tral Europe, as only a strong Italy can I keep Germany from annexing Austria, leading to a general war in Europe. These anxieties are depending on the Continent and are even affecting Whitehall. ENQUIRIES TO GERMANY. THE OBJECTIVE OF BRITAIN. A PERIOD OF OPPORTUNITY. (Omciai Wireless.) Received May 8. 11.0 a m.) RUGBY, Ma) 7. The British enquiries communicated to the German Koreigu Minister ha\t been carefully considered, and are informed by the spirit indicated m the Foreign Secretary’s speech In the debate in the House of Commons last night, when he said that the objective of the Government in these exchanges remained what it had alwava been—namely "to make a period of the crisis a period of opportunity.” THE GERMAN PROPOSALS. BRITAIN’S INQUIRIES. WILL INDUCE SINCERE RESPONSE. Unlutu a'ress Assn.—-tier t*l Cmq. ua&i (Received May 8, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON. May 7. The Berlin correaponuent of tha Times says that semi-official cricles describe the British document a» •• polite but complicated.” At present it is not being published, but it is understood it consists of seven or eight type-written sheets, which contain many cross references to three German proposals made uuriug March, especially re l erring to the constructive side of Herr Hitler’s policy, on which they form a running com uientary. interspersed with iriendly inquiries, so lrained as to induce a sin cere response by the sincerity of the»r inquisitiveness. * They also offer tentative interpretations 'of |Herr Hitler’s public statements. Herr Hitler will he **ked whether the dellnitious and conditions he outlined to Sir John Simon last year are I still valid, and although he will not ua dlrectl) asked whether he will abstain from future repudiation of engagements. or wliether the Rhiuelaud demilitarisation is the last of the socalled inequality. Information is sought concerning Germany's relation?, with tier neighbours. German colomal ambitions. and how the Covenani and I peace treaties can best he separated j Germauy is ready to ai»cus» tha [ questions orally, hut a written reply ! will take some time nud would not b< ready before the League's meeting ou May il.