FRICTION IN GERMANY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 80, 16 January 1936, Page 6

FRICTION IN GERMANY.

FORCES AND RADICAL NAZIS.

SERIES OF CONFERENCES HELD. (United Press Association— Copyright). LONDON, Jan. 15. The Berlin correspondent of "The Times" says there is lively speculation about a series of conferences between high officers of the army, navv, and air force, and representatives of the S.S. (Nazi Black-uniformed Guards) and S.A. (Brown-Shirt Commands). The press is completely silent, but it is recalled that similar conferences were held a year ago when the stated object was to demonstrate to the nation the unity of the new Germany in the fact of lying foreign reports of friction among the leaders. There is reason to believe that the present conferences are dealing with causes of friction which is known to exist still between the armed forces and forces like the S.S. and S.A., which are more directly identified with the Nazi movement. It is known that the army is closely watching the S.S., which provides Herr Hitler's bodyguard, and whose standing forces are stated to number 16,000, divided into four regiments stationed in different parts of Germany. They are armed with rifles, machine-guns, and armoured ears, and also have artillery units. There are also between 200,000 and 300,000 unarmed reservists. They are the elect of the Nazi movement, and upholders of its principles in the most radical form. It is believed that they are dissatisfied with their status in relation to the army.

There is no suggestion that the stability of the regime is immediately threatened, but it is believed that it has now become necessary', in the interests of stability, to arrive at clear and definite understandings about spheres of competence and nuthoritv.

It is understood that so far no conclusions have been reached, but conferences are continuing.