EASTERN PACT

Evening Post, Issue 66, 15 September 1936, Page 9

EASTERN PACT

HOPE VANISHES

GERMANY STANDS OUT

LONDON, September 14. The "Daily Mail's" diplomatic col* respondent says that Herr Hitler has informed Whitehall that Germany would on no account sit at the same table as Russia in the Locarno Powers' discussions, thus dismissing hope of an eastern pact.

The basis of German foreign policy appears likely to bring her into inevitable conflict with Russia. The theory, as set forth in Hitler's book"Mem Kampf," contemplates an extension of the area of territory to be held by Germany to the point whera it is large enough to contain not only present, but future population, and to hold it so distributed that, industry and agriculture will be independent of foreign markets. A widely-spaced population is also recommended for military reasons—it is less vulnerable to an enemy. The situation was summarised by, a writer in "The New Statesman and Nation" recently. Working from a copy of "Mem Kampf," the writer quoted the statement on page 767 of this book where it was stated that whereas today there are 80,000,000 Germans in Eurpoe the policy must look forward to the position a century hence and provide land "on this con* tinent" for 250,000,000 Germans to live, "not squeezed together as factory coolies for the rest of the world, but as peasants and workmen^ who .through their production assured livelihood for one another." Where is this great area to be found? On pages 154 and 742.it is stated that they are to be found in Russia. "Providence has opportunely brought Russia into a state propitious to this enterprise" (page 742). Such a policy cannot be pursued by halves, and it would be a great mistake to' quarrel with other Powers about overseas colonies which in any case would not afford settlement for a large white population. Germany's future lies not on the water, but on the land.

The territory in Russia to which th« Germans are believed to aspire is th« Ukraine, the great tract of 451.000 square kilometres with a population of about 30,000,000, which is bordered on the south by the Black Sea and Crimean Republic and the Sea of Azov, on the west by Bessarabia, and on th« north by White Russia and the province of Bryansk. It is predominantly agricultural, but owns the Donetz coal mines and has iron, manganese, mer» cury, and copper deposits.