GERMANY’S PATH

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 80, 28 December 1935, Page 11

GERMANY’S PATH

Hitler Indicates New Year Policy FASTER REARMING Time Not Ripe to Press Aims Abroad QUESTION OF COLONIES By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received Dec. 28, 12.40 a.m.) London, December 27. The “Manchester Guardian’s” diplomatic correspondent says that the trend of German foreign policy in the New Year was thus indicated by Herr Hitler himself at a recent meeting of the German cabinet. “The time for Germany to make her weight felt in pursuit of national aims abroad has not yet come and may be delayed another year, perhaps several,” he said. “German rearmament is not yet complete and must be speeded up. The Italo-Abysinnia conflict is unlikely to last much longer and there will then be a renewed attempt under British leadership to secure limitation of international armaments but Germany will not accept limitation until she has rearmed in the measure she considers necessary. If Germany is sufficiently armed other powers will be unable to exert pressure on her to reduce armaments.

“Speeding up Germany’s rearmament is also necesary for internal reasons. Limitations mean dismissals of workmen from arms factories, making Germany’s already grave unemployment problem graver still.” Dr. Schacht, Minister of Economics, alone criticised Herr Hitler’s remarks, especially those on economies, arguing that Germany must, above all, be able to import ipore raw materials and increase her foreign currency holding, but his argument were brushed aside. It is pointed out that if Germany forgoes an active foreign policy for at least another year Nazis may lose ground in Austria, but Herr Hitler was seemingly convinced that this would easily be recoverable when the time to act comes. He believes that an ultimate Austro-German union is certain.

The correspondent adds that Germany is likely to make a claim to the possession of overseas colonies next year, though Herr Hitler may at ( first merely demand recognition, of “Germany’s right” to be a colonial Power. His chief concern is to formulate the claim in such a way as to avoid arousing British' mistrust and ill-feeling.