On this day, 90 years ago, March 31, 1935 (February 27, 1935 in the lunar calendar), dark clouds of war shrouded Europe. Hitler portrayed the Treaty of Versailles and held a grand military parade in Merlin On March 31, 1935, the situation in Europe became more complex and turbulent. On the 30th, officials from Russia and Britain held a meeting, bringing the eventful month to a climax. German Chancellor Adolf Hitler received the warmest welcome in Saarland on March 1st, the day Saarland was handed over from France to Germany. There were hopes at the welcoming ceremony that the transfer of the territory would help ease growing tensions in Europe. However, Saarbrucken was not at all peaceful that day, and when the Fuehrer called the jubilant celebrators "my Saarans", they were overjoyed. Three days later, Britain announced a new policy to strengthen defense. A white paper signed by Prime Minister Ramsey McDonald said Britain's defenses needed to be strengthened because of Germany's "sense of aggression" and "growing armed forces... throughout the world." On the 16th, when the Third Reich announced that it would re-establish the military conscription system, Britain grew its concerns about Germany. This action violated the military provisions of the Treaty of Versailles. However, German newspapers published the decree restoring conscription under the headline "The Treaty of Versailles ends, Germany regains freedom", saying,"Only by rebuilding the German army can the German people defend themselves in a gun-filled Europe." As expected, the responses were diverse, and most major countries felt uneasy. France was discouraged but not surprised, Britain was angry but willing to send its foreign minister, John Simon, to Berlin for negotiations; and Japan, seemingly silent, was happy with the revival of German militarism. A week later, Mussolini followed in his footsteps and expanded the conscription to include graduates of 1911. By this time next month, Italy would have 1 million armed soldiers available for combat. Many Europeans are unclear about Hesorini's motives. German troops marched in Saarbrucken for the first time since the war. Britain sent Anthony Eden to Moscow for talks with Stalin and Molotov.