Evening star., 1936-03-19
League of Nations Council Votes Hitler Action Violates Treaties

action just after diplomats Of the
other Locarno powers reached a pro-
visional agreement for action to ad-
just the crisis. only to meet q declara-
ton by an official German spokesman
that the tentative plan was COM
pletely unacceptable to the Germans.
Sunlight streamed in the windows
Of the great Queen Anne's drawing
room at st. James Palace as the
Reich representative, wearing black
suit and black tie. addressed the
Council, sitting in stiff silence amid
tense atmosphere.
Appears Haggard and Worn.
The Reich representative spoke in
German. and appeared haggard and
worn after nearly a whole night OF
conferences.
Emphatically, Won Ribbentrop as
serted that France, by approaching
Soviet Russia in concluding what
was really a military alliance, did not
respect the Locarno treaty"
Germany had made a great con-
tribution to Locarno by accepting the
demilitarized zone" he said.
Speaking slowly and deliberately,
Won Ribbentrop insisted that under the
Franco-Soviet pact, France could de-
eide for herself, in the event Of
Soviet German conflict, which of the
two countries was the aggressor.
If France decided Germany were the
aggressor, he said. the Locarno guar
antees against Germany would come
into force.
II the League Council decided later
that Germany was not the aggreSsor.
he insisted, sanctions already would
have been applied against the Reich.
Reich Held Free Agent.
Accusing France Of being the first
to break the Locardo pact. Won Rib
bentrop said this made Germany a
free agent. releasing the Reich from
treaty obligations.
Then slowly, impressively. he de-
clared:
Il am sure every statesman here
who loves his people like Hitler loves
his would have done exactly the same"
The Franco-Soviet pact. he con-
tended disturbed the balance Of
power" making it mandatory upon the
Reich to "act in behalf of German
security"
FIatly, he declared Germany could
not agree to submit the question Of the
compatibility Of the Franco Soviet
pact to The Hague World Court-one
point in the French plan for settle
ment Of the dispute.
Germany. he said. had TO military
alliances placing her in a position of
readiness to negotiate peace arrange
ments. since with the occupation Of
the Rhineland. the last unacceptable
stipulations Of the Versailles treaty
had disappeared.
Says Negotiations Aided.
Free Germany" Won Ribbentrop
declared, was in better position to
negotiate satisfactory peace arrange
ments, and he expressed hope the
Council would view the situation in
this light.
If a mighty power like France
assumes the right to do as she pleases,
it is only right that Germany can do
the same in the interests of her peo-
pie" he said.
Referring to belief that other
countries understood Germany bet
ter than France" Won Ribbentrop re-
peated Hitler's oft-voiced stand that
Germany desired only peace with her
, neighbors.
I'VE have only one wish-that Is
TO walk in peace and friendship with
all countries" the ambassador at large
said. I'VE shall do all in our power
toward that goal"
Says Peace Offers Spurned.
Won Ribbentrop criticized France
for refusing to disarm asserting this
forced Germany to take measures to
restore equilibrium.
The German Chancellor has many
times offered hand OF friendship to
France, but it was not taken" he said.
Hitler's offer of 25-year non-aggres-
sion pacts, he insisted. represented
the most heartfelt desire OF country
Won Ribbentrop spoke for Is min
| utes.
Soviet Foreign Commissar Maxim
Litvinoff, who criticized both Ger
many and Hitter strongly in a speech
to the Council earlier in the week, fol-
lowed every word closely.
Won Ribbentrop charged France had
rejected disarmament pleas, had tossed
aside German offer to limit its army
to 100000 men and had brushed aside
an air pact, making it conditional upon
German participation in Q general
eastern pact.
The Reich, therefore he said, had
been forced to exercise elementary
right to her safety" because France
stripped the Locarno pact Of all its
value.
Court Called Political.
The permanent Court of Interna-
tional Justice at the Hague, to which
the French proposed the Franco
Soviet pact be submitted for a de-
ciSion as to whether it contradicted
the Locarno pact, was called not only
court OF peace, but a political in
stitution" by Won Ribbentrop.
Hitler's security proposals, the Am.
baSsador insisted, furnished basis for
ending Franco German tension" and
paving the way for creation of great
European peace unit in which all ma
tions could participate
"The chancellor's plan is so wide
and comprehensive that all states
men must wish to see it realized" he
said.
The League announced, after an
early morning private session:
After an exchange of views be-
tween Bruce, Won Ribbentrop and
Flandin, the Council decided that
after hearing the German represent
ative in public, it would take vote
at 3 PM, on the draft Of the reso-
luton submitted by the Belgian and
French governments
This resolution charged Germany