Evening star., 1936-03-18
ITALY REFUSES
TOPUN|SH NAz|S
Reveals Sanctions Ban as
French Reject New Brit
iSh Proposal.

(Copyright, 1886, by the Associated Presso
LONDON, March 18.-Italy an
nounced officially today that she
would join in no sanctions against
Germany based on Reichsfuehrer
Hitlers denunciation of the Locarno
treaty.
This announcement was conveyed to
@ public session of the League Of Ma
tons Council by Dino Grandi, Pre-
mier Mussolini's Ambassador to Lon
don.
Ambassador Grandi declared that
Italy fully recognizes that Germany
had committed treaty violation, but
you cannot expect my country, after
what happened at Geneva, to take
any measures which are incompatible
with or in contradiction to our ideas"
Recalls Sanctions Against Duce.
He was referring specifically to the
League of Nations sanctions against
Italy for her war with Ethiopia.
The Italian statement Of position
fell upon the ears of representatives
of Locarno treaty Signatories who
were deadlocked in their attempts to
straighten out the tangled European
crisis. The French had fatty refused
even to consider a British proposal for
a Franco-German demilitarized zone
along the Rhine.
A delegation of German diplomats,
assured of Great Britains considera-
tion of ReichSfuehrer Hitler'S new
peace proposals, was flying by airplane
from Berlin, but was due too late for
the session of the League Council.
Anthony Eden, British foreign min
lister, went before the Council with
the declaration that the duty Of the
nations of Europe "is to preserve peace
on firm and enduring foundation"
At the same time however. he fatty
charged Germany with having COM
nitted treaty violation.
Security Shaken, Eden Says.
Eden said security and confidence
had been severely shaken by Ger
many's actions, adding: Germany
has emphasized her aim for peace, but
she should realize that the denuncia-
ton Of treaties nullifies this aim"
II have already stated before the
Council" said Eden, that in the view
of the British government patent
and incontestable breach of the Ver-
sailles treaty relating to the demin-
tarized zone has been committed.
1T is therefore, in the opinion Of
his majesty'S government, right for
the Council to come to similar con-
clusion and to convey this finding to
the other signatory powers"
Despite violent storm Of criticism,
the British did not abandon their be-
lief that temporary neutral zone be-
tween the German and French mill
tary forces would materially aid the
situation.
The French, who seemed virtually
panic-stricken by the British tendency
to compromise with Germany, served
notice that they were not prepared to
enter into any negotiations with Ger
many until in May-after the French
and German parliamentary elections.
French sources declared that any
Paris government agreeing to a joint
Franco-German demilitarized zone,
policed by the League of Nations,
would sound its own death knell.
French sources insisted no govern
ment, in the present state of French
nationalism after the German occu-
patton Of the Rhineland and before
the French Spring elections, would
dare subscribe to any plan by which
portion Of its territory would be po-
Iced by foreign representatives.
The French reaction to the reported
British plan for new European Sc
curity system came just in advance
Of the new session of diplomats of the
Locarno powers seeking to arrive at a
lasting solution of the crisis precipi-
tated by Germany's Rhine watch in
defiance of the Locarno pact and
Versailles treaty.
A British foreign Office spokesman
emphasized that all reports of the
British draft were unconfrmed specu-
lation, but recalled that a Joint de-
rilitarization was proposed by Adolf
Hitler, whose plans the British prom
1sed would be considered in due
course.
League sources, aware Of the French
views, felt that such British proposals,
while they might eventually be ac-
ceptable, were politically impossible at
present because of the forthcoming
elections in both France and Germany.
British May Delay Action.
For this reasons, it was believed the
British would not press for immediate
solution Of the crisis, but would agree
to put of difficult discussions until
temperS cooled.
The French, aroused because of de-
lay in the League Councils condemna-
tion Of Germany for its treaty breach,
were believed to be demanding a
showdown at the session of Locarno
diplomats on the question of finding
Germany guilty.
The British, not interested in pun
ishing Germany, felt that the situation
should be utilized for constructive ef-
forts instead of destructive moves such
as might follow any voting of sane
tlonS against the Reich.
Border F0rtifcations.
The famed French Maginot line on
the eastern border, they pointed out, |
ran as close as 500 meters from the |
Frontier and was never more than
eight kilometers distant.
One French authority said a Joint |
Franco German demilitarization |
scheme would be furnishing France
when it is Germany who committed |
the offense," and would provoke o |
curious storm Of public resentment in |
France.
Amid the controversy over the re-
ported British proposals, German dele |
gates we're flying from Berlin to Join |
the Council deliberations, and the |
executive body of the League was sum- |
nnoned to public session later today |