German Troops Enter Rhineland

2 March 1935 - German troops reoccupied the Rhineland yesterday in a sign of repudiation of the Versailles Treaty and a breach of the Locarno Treaty. They entered unopposed Saturday, the last foreign troops having left in 1930, though French forces waited ominously on the border. Parliament is not expected to take military action against Germany for this "illegal" act despite queries by the French government. Prime Minister MacDonald has refused comment on the issue while Conservative leader Stanley Baldwin stated, "Britain lacks the resources to enforce her treaty guarantees and that public opinion would not stand for military force anyway. To entertain thoughts of war is folly." Others in Parliament have likened Germany's remilitarization of the Rhineland as "stepping into their own backyard" and thus not any of Britain's affair.

Most MPs saw German reoccupation of the Rhineland as inevitable following a treaty signed last year by government allowing Germany to increase their naval tonnage to roughly 35% of the Royal Navy. With an ever increasing reluctance to enforce the twin treaties, German aggression was sue to be emboldened.

French officials are to meet for further meetings with their British counterparts to consult on how to solve this current dilemma. Many believe that without British support the French will fail to act in any way. There is a fear in French circles that any assault on Germany would lead to a long, protracted war. General Gamelin has gone on record stating, "If France countered the German forces and this caused a long war, France would be unable to win fighting alone."

The Belgian government seems to be favouring a neutral stance while the Polish government has announced it will honour the Franco-Polish Military Alliance, though only if France was attacked first. With its allies edging away, France may have to rely on the League of Nations to settle this issue.

SOURCE: London Times