Evening star., 1936-03-26
AVERT
WAR, EDEN HOLDS
Britain's Obligation Under
Locarno Reaffirned
in Commons.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
LONDON. March 26.-The Locarno
powers proposals to settle the Rhine-
land crisis allayed the immediate pros
pect of war moves. Anthony Eden,
foreign secretary, told the House of
Commons today in reafirming Great
Britain's obligations under the Lo-
carno treaty.
Declaring Germany must make q
contribution toward easing the situa-
ton, the foreign secretary emphasized
It's critical nature, saying:
II do not view the future with a
light heart"
Il believe We are beginning period
which must at best be one Of the most
critical in international negotiations, :"
he said.
The recent proposals, coming lat a
moment of crisis" he said. allayed
the immediate prospect Of steps being
taken which might have led to war u
Dangers Not Appreciated.
Capt. Eden said he felt the latent
dangers" of the situation had not yet
been wholly appreciated"
I'VE must have contribution from
Germany toward easing the situation, II
he declared.
so far none has been forthcoming
save the chancellor's undertaking not
to increase the number of troops which
originally entered the zone"
THE proposals from Germany which
are to come next week will be received
with an open mind and with a keen
desire to make the best use Of them
we can in order to bring about per-
manent pacification Of Europe" Capt
Eden said.
He admoniShed France, as we'll as
Germany, to approach solution oi
the situation in a fair spirit.
I'VE cannot assure peace unless thu
French government is ready to ap.
proach with an open mind the prob.
lens which still separate them from
Germany" the British foreign secre.
tary said.
Proposals Not Ultimatum.
Eden again made clear that in thu
British view the proposals Of ths
Locarno powers contained in tn:
British white paper had always beer
proposals"
They are not an ultimatum anc
still less a dictate" he asserted.
He told the House of Commons ir
particular and Europe in general thai
1T is vital to the interest of this
country that the integrity of France
and Belgium should be maintained anr
that no hostile force should cross theil
frontiers"
If Germany is unwilling to take the
Franco-Soviet mutual assistance pac,
before the Hague Court of Interna-
tional Justice, Eden said, "it is only
fair to point out that the Franco
German arbitration treaty signed be.
tween the two countries expressly
provides that even legal questions can
by agreement, be submitted to the
permanent conciliation commission
which that agreement sets up"
He defended the conversations be-
tween the French and British general
staffs. saying they do not imply any
political undertakings or any obliga.
ton as regards the defense organiza-
ton between the two parties"
The foreign secretary told how
Great Britain had resisted French
moves for sanctions against Germany
Many of the legislators Eden ad-
dressed sought assurances that Great
Britain contemplated no further COM
mitments on the Continent.
Eden pointed out to them that
Great Britain was obligated under the
Locarno treaty to guarantee that
there be no aggression between Ger
many, France and Belgium.
I'm not prepared" he said. "to
be the first British foreign secretary
to go back on British signature.
Obligations Recognized.
II believe 1t to be the Judgment of
this country. even If we think Ger.
many has a strong case, that we
deprecate the fact that she has
chosen to present it by force and not
reason.
I'VE must distinguish between what
might be national sentiment and what
are our national obligations"