MOST SERIOUS

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 36, 12 February 1936, Page 11

MOST SERIOUS

GERMAN RE-ARMAMENT

BRITISH OPINION

URGENCY OF PREPAREDNESS

STRONGER COLLECTIVE SYSTEM

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. (Received February 12, noon.) LONDON, February 1L The "Manchester Guardian's" diplomatic writer says that Government quarters take a most serious view of German re-armament, though they have never regarded it lightly and did not foresee how all the moral material resources of the nation would be .subordinated to it. It is now thought in London that British re-armament must be hastened as a matter of the gravest urgency. The weakness of the collective system makes it necessary for Britain to be able to repel attack by the strongest European Power. Simultaneously every effort will be made to strengthen the collective system. Britain is more deeply involved in European affairs than at any time since the end of the Great War. The general opinion in Whitehall seems to be that if Britain remains aloof from Europe a general war is inevitable. War may be averted if Britain is sufficiently strong and also takes an active part in the consolidation of collective security. The close Anglo-French relations and the signs o£ concord between England and Russia have already persuaded Rumania and Poland that the collective system is not the shaky structure it formerly appeared to be. ALL PART OF SYSTEM. Germany is losing her belief that she can expand by dealing piecemeal with her neighbours, whom she is now realising are parfe of a system to which Britain also belongs. This has caused the deepest disappointment to Herr Hitler, whose declared policy has been to detach Britain from Europe. Germany's foreign policy is likely to become more cautious, and indications are that she will first raise the question of colonies, which does not concern raw materials, but her prestige, but British official opinion is that Germany has not the slightest chance- of recovering a single colony. Germany is also likely to decide upon the most effective way of recovering the demilitarised zone before the end of the year, as she cannot expand eastwards or towards Austria until she has secured her rear by fortifying the demilitarised zone. ITALY AND LOCARNO. The "Daily Mail's" Paris correspondent emphasises that it is growing clearer daily that Signor Mussolini may be forced by the League's continued hostility to declare that Italy will no longer guarantee the Locarno Treaty, thus enabling Germany to claim that the whole treaty has lapsed. M. Flandin realises the danger, but is still hopeful that he can manoeuvre to maintain tht vital link with London without estranging Rome. He is also apparently optimistic of some early acceptable settlement between Italy and Abyssinia enabling a speedy re-estab-lishment of the Stresa front. If this is not done there are many who believe that the next move will be some working agreement between Rome and Berlin. UNDERSTANDING WITH GERMANY. The "Daily Mail's" Rome correspondent says it is officially denied that Italy is negotiating for an understanding with Germany, and it cannot be doubted that Italy would prefer to keep the Stresa front in existence if possible. Nevertheless, it is asserted that Italy cannot indefinitely keep up even an appearance of friendship with nations which are doing their utmost to prevent the successful solution of the conflict between Italy and Abyssinia. Italians consider that they have been betrayed and this feeling will probably continue to rankle long after the East African campaign is finished. Interruption of Italian trade with England and France has already intensified commercial relations with Germany, and commercial relations are often the forerunner of close political relations. It is declared' that the day may not be far distant when Italy will be obliged to adopt an official policy more in keeping with the realities of the present situation. ;