GERMAN ANXIETY

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 35, 11 February 1936, Page 9

GERMAN ANXIETY

DIPLOMATIC TRENDS

POSSIBLE ENCIRCLEMENT

PROBLEM OF COLONIES

(Heceived February 11,10.40 a.m.)

BERLIN, February 10. German anxieties regarding the trend of diplomatic moves in Europe are finding increasing expression in the German Press. The chief point of fear at the moment is that the Anglo-Russian rapprochement may lead to an encirclement of Germany by England, France, and Russia, and quarters which hitherto had regarded British friendship towards Germany as axiomatic in the solution of their problems now appear less certain than before. The Foreign Office mouthpiece, the "Borsen Zeitung," says it is due to the psychological absurdities of British policy that France is being suddenly encouraged from London to conclude a Franco-Russian pact. The "Borsen Zeitung'' concedes the justification ,of British re-armament, but contrasts it with last week's appeals in the House of Commons for the Government to take every practicable step for further better understanding with the nations. The "Frankfurter Zeitung" suggests that Mr. Baldwin and Mr. Eden, who is so sure of himself, will have to say more clearly whether their talk about the League of Nations means coalition against Germany or envisages the new leadership in Europe which Sir Samuel Hoare has expounded. Simultaneously there is widespread editorial discussion of Germany's colonial problem in which it is agreed that Germany cannot be satisfied with a mere share of raw materials but that it is a matter of honour that she regains her colonies. General Goering's organ, the "National Zeitung," says that Germany does not ask Britain to cede any of her own colonies or to grant benevolent permission for access to raw materials, but Germany expects a just, solution of the so-called i mandatory problem, which others] want to avoid by proposing different solutions. j THE NEW NAVY. Meanwhile, in view of the fact that the London Naval Conference is wrestling with the difficult principle that capital ships shall riot exceed 35,000 tons and 14-inch guns (though Lord Monsell indicated that Britain is willing to come as low as 22,000 tons and 11-inch guns), it is interesting that a message from Berlin quotes Weyer's authoritative naval handbook as disclosing for the first time that Germany's two 26,000-ton battleships will mount nine 11-inch guns, whereas a greater calibre had been expected. The handbook also reveals that Germany's two 10,000 tonners are armed with eight 8-inch guns. Details are not given of the ten "surprise" ships armed with two 4-inch guns.