BERLIN CONFERENCES CAUSE INTEREST

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 95, 16 January 1936, Page 10

BERLIN CONFERENCES CAUSE INTEREST

Leaders of Armed Forces

DEALING WITH CAUSES OF FRICTION

by Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright

(Received January 15, 8 p.m.)

London, January 15.

The Berlin correspondent of "The Times" .-ays there is lively speculation as the result of a series of conferences between high officers of the Army, Navy and Air Force, and representatives of tlie S.S.. namely, Nazi black-uniformed guards, and S.A., namely Brown Shirt, commands.

The Press is completely silent, but it is recalled that similar conferences were held a year ago when it was .staled that their object was to demonstrate io the nation Hie unity of Hie new Germany in the face of lying foreign reports of friction among Hie leaders. Tliere is reason to believe that tlie present conferences are dealing with the causes of friction which are known still to exist 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 witli rifles, machine-guns and armoured cars, and also have artillery units. There are also between 200,000 and 300,000 unarmed reservists. They are tlie elect of the Nazi movement, and the upholders of its principles in their most radical form. It is believed they are dissatisfied with their status in relation to the army. 'There is no suggestion that Lite 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 aud authority. So far, it is understood, no conclusions have been reached, but the conferences are continuing. EXPELLED FROM COUNTRY Foreign Correspondents London, January It. The "Manchester Guardian’s” Berlin correspondent says that Ernst Popper, Berlin correspondent of the "Prager Tageblatt,” has been expelled from Germany on the ground of sending reports prejudicial to Nazism. Popper is the fourth foreign journalist who has been expelled in the last few months.

The expulsion notice is remarkable because it lays down wide restrictions for foreign correspondents and forbids them to report matters of national defence, home or foreign politics, Government policy, or economic activities. Methods of intimidation against foreign journalists are increasing. Some have been arrested, and the Propaganda Ministry lias warned others that their messages will bring them into disfavour.