GERMANY CAUSES ANXIETY

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21974, 24 December 1936, Page 11

GERMANY CAUSES ANXIETY

STRONGER COLONIAL CLAIMS ATTITUDE OF FRANCE DEFINED HITLER'S SPANISH ADVENTURE (Received December 24, 2 a.m.) , LONDON, December 23. The Paris correspondent of "The Times" says the increasingly urgent note of Germany's colonial claims and the British reaction to them has produced the French attitude that Germany could be given colonies if she were prepared to pay the price of a general lasting European settlement; but if she is merely seeking another fillip to Nazi prestige and further incentive to Nazi ambition France is determined to sacrifice nothing which, instead of relieving a good neighbour, strengthens a dangerous one.

Indeed, before one inch of Frenchadministered territory is returned to Germany the whole German policy must be reorientated, producing assurances of peace instead of threats; the limitation and control of armaments instead of colossal rearmament; and a relaxation and diversion of effort instead of war-like industrial and economic mobilisation. Moreover, before the colonial question becomes politically significant, Germany must alter her attitude to Spain, which is likely to cause the explosion which Herr Hitler has repeatedly stated he desires to avoid. Indeed M. Delbos (Foreign Minister) recently diplomatically informed Germany that if she gave more substantial support to the insurgents France's continued non-intervention could not be counted on. M. Delbos also suggested the advisability of Britain and France giving an uncompromising warning that they would not tolerate a German invasion of Spain, where it is already estimated there are 30,000 Germans. Finally there is a strong suspicion that Herr Hitler is too far committed to his present policy to wish, or perhaps to be able, to withdraw. Accordingly the claim is being pressed to excuse rather than to avert the threatened explosion.

Internal Conditions The diplomatic correspondent of the "News-Chronicle" says the affairs of Germany are being followed with greater anxiety by European foreign offices than at any time since Herr Hitler came to power. Best information is that Germany's economic condition is far«#vorse than is realised or rep' -fed, and unless there is a complete change of policy economic hardship will be so widespread by late spring that Herr Hitler will be tempted as never before to embark on some serious foreign adventure. Hitherto his coups have been carried out for reasons of popularity and prestige; but from now on their main motive would be necessity. The uneasiness is all the greater because of the feeling that Herr Hitler's Spanish policy has reached a most critical stage. It is believed that he must now decide either to extend his intervention to a sensational and dangerous degree, or to admit failure and put an end to it which, it is understood, the German general staff is urging. The Madrid correspondent of "The Times," in fcn uncensored dispatch, says the struggle is becoming more acute, mainly through the arrival from abroad of volunteers, aircraft, artillery, and ammunition, resulting in international complications becoming more intensive daily, and justifying even more fully the Spanish Government's contention that the conflict in Spain is not a domestic ,but an international concern. Spain is again to become the cockpit in which the issues being fought out this time involve not only Europe, but humanity as a whole. Where the struggle will end nobody can say. The special correspondent of "The Times" at Gibraltar emphasises that German influence is playing a big part in General Franco's plans. Germans are seen everywhere. In Salamaca more German is spoken than Spanish. A German general in Seville is under General Franco's direct orders. He has 15,000 men besieging the western side of Madrid. The Berlin correspondent of the "News-Chronicle" says that a new decree announces that in future no passports for foreign travel will be issued .to Germans between the ages of 18 and 45 without the permission of the military authorities. The object is to prevent Germans escaping military or labour service by fleeing abroad and remaining there. The Berlin correspondent of the "Manchester Guardian" says the suggestion that Germany should diminish her armaments in return for economic and other concessions is regarded - . an affrqnt to German honour. "Germany's security is not for sale," comments the "Frankfurter Zeitung." The newspaper adds: "Our choice has been made. We will not allow ourselves to be kept down."