Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1936-04-09

GCIIdlH oiISIS IIOul Tic oIHCi poWCIo
who had signed the Locarno treaties
of 1926, and while he did not reject
them, he presented counter offer
which was, in reality, an elaboration
Of the Seven Points he outlined in his
speech of March z; he wanted new
negotiations about substitute for
the Locarno treaties; he asked for an
impartial and international control of
the German-FrancO-Bel borders;
he asked that France and Belgium do
rot increase their military border
forces, and that all campaigns of
hatred among the three countries be
stopped under British supervision he
wanted negotiations started with a
view to concluding 25-year non-ag-
gression treaties between Germany
and several other states; he also pro-
posed that the question of restoring
to Germany the overseas colonies lost
as a result of the World war be dis
cussed, and that an international dis
armament conference once more be
summoned; finally he said that if the
other LOcarno powers agreed to this,
Germany was willing and ready to
once more join the League of Nations.
The Reaction.
Almost at once the British govern
ment let it be known that it con-
sidered the Hitler proposals as rea-
sonable basis for continued discussion.
But France grew angry because Ger
many had not limited that she was
willing to remove her troops from
the Rhine. Germany is not likely to
ever give such hint.
Under British pressure, the French
attitude seems to have softened to
some extent. You do not now hear
shouts of immediate rejection of the
Hitler plan, but you are told, though,
that France considers the whole mat
ter one for the LOcarno powers to
discuss; these powers outside of Ger
many, are France, Great Britain, Bel
GUM and Italy.
Great Britain rejects the French
thesis and insists that slow-working,
personal contacts are better than I'M
wieldy, formal discussions.
No doubt the whole problem will
be aired once more in the course of
the League council meeting which
started yesterday. And no doubt
nothing will result from discussion
now.
Hitler says he wants world peace
secured. France says the same thing.
Hitler insists that such security may
be found only in treaties between
groups of two powers; France main
tains that such treaties should be
formed all-around, and include all.
And there is the hub.
Military Conversations.
There are now in progresses a
result of the Rhineland occupation by
Germany-two sets of negotiations or,
one had better say-because they are
pretty mal-conversations, name
ly within the League council and
within the circle of the Locarno pow
ers. To this is added a third, for the
general staff of the French, the
British, the Italian and the Belgian
armies are to talk the matter over.
Purely technical questions they
say. That may be so-but when gen.
eral army staffs confer, the perspec-
tive is pretty wide.
Great Britain recognizes this and
has rushed out with repeated
declaration to the effect that France
may not rely upon British aid unless
Germany actually invades French
SOIL And Italy-we1l, Italy is, as
usual, calculating probable develop
ments; just now it appears that Italy
is willing to take part in all kinds of
Rhineland discussions on condition
that the League of Nations removes
the aggressOr-stigma from ltaly's
name and also lifts the sanctions vot-
ed by the League against her.
Altogether, the situation is quite
bewildering, very much confusing.
But it does not look as threatening
as, for instance, one month ago. The