CHANGE OF FRONT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 275, 2 September 1936, Page 5

CHANGE OF FRONT.

HITLER AND ARMS LIMITATION. “SMELL OF WAR IN THE AIR.” United Press Association—Copyright; LONDON, September 1. The Berlin correspondent of “The Times” says that whereas a few days ago Germany was loudly blaming tho “Bolshevist menace” as the sole reason for her own introduction of two years’ military service, the blame is now being placed more on France’s link with Russia. The “Bolshevist menace” does not seem to have been sufficientlyi convincing. There is a smell of war in the atmosphere, for which the suspicion is dawning in Germany that her own policy can at least be blamed. Moreover, Herr Hitler has apparently been convinced that tho two years’ service and the following •taxation increases are producing a mood more hostile to the Nazi regime than the German people has hitherto displayed. German thoughts are therefore suddenly turned to tho possibility of international discussions and armament limitation, as it is apparently felt that success in this, and a general relaxation of the tension, would help to restore shattered confidence at home. It is now asserted that if Franco had not “fetched Soviet Russia into Europe” armament limitation could have been obtained at a comparatively low level. As it was, Germany was compelled to look to her own defence; and if she is now ready to talk of limitation it is probably because she now feels that she has reached a reasonably satisfactory level.