THE HITLER ISSUE

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 6, 8 January 1938, Page 15

THE HITLER ISSUE

BRITAIN DIVIDED

RECENT DISCUSSIONS

In Hitler's magnificent office at the Reichskanzlei, a meeting was held recently that promises to become history, writes Frederic Sondeni from Berlin to the "San Francisco Chronicle." Fifteen leaders of the General Staff, Executive Dictator Gocring, War Minister Blomberg, and Admiral Raedcr listened to a two-hour speech by Dcr Fuhrer on the "imminent events" that he forecast in his Augsburg speech.

From his conversations with Viscount Halifax, Hitler had concluded that neither England nor France would lift a finger to prevent German penetration of Austria and Czechoslovakia. He assured the assembled generals that the next step in his programme could be taken "without the remotest fear of war." His gesture of renouncing colonial claims for a period of years, he explained, had strengthened Mr. Chamberlain's resolution to restrain France from giving the Prague Government any active support that might involve Europe and England in war. Hitler indicated . further' that two forthcoming events would supply the ideal opportunity: Japan's seizure of the cables and Customs offices at Shanghai—which will seriously increase Anglo-American-Japanese tension; and the final triumph of Franco in Spain—which German military experts foresee as inevitable with the coming general offensive on all fronts. AUTONOMY ISSUE. Hitler hopes, according to insiders, that Mr. .Chamberlain will be able to persuade • French Premier Chautemps to exert pressure on Prague for a peaceful granting of autonomy to the German sections of Czechoslovakia. If the British Prime Minister or the French Premier is unsuccessful, everything is ready for starting a campaign for terrorism. , The generals received without a murmur their orders for further strengthening the concentrations on the Czech and Austrian borders. With General Beck—former Chief of Staff and conscientious objecter to Hitler's spirit of adventure-jgone, no one dared to raise, the veto that stopped a German war with Spain last summer. The stage is set for the final success of Hitler's "colossal blackmail."

Frantic diplomats a"nd newspapermen have been besieging Whitehall for a glimmer of facts in the great fog of secret diplomacy. According to insiders violent disputes crackled'and sparked behind the guarded doors at "Number 10" recently. Mr Chamberlain ha difficulty restraining the embattled pro- and' antiGerman statesmen after Viscount Halifax had reported on Hitler's demands for a European settlement. •' ■ Der Fuhrer asked for a free hand in Austria and Czechoslovakia in ■ exchange for postponement of his colonial demands and for braking -Mussolini' in the Mediterranean. ' The battle be r 1 ween Under-Secretary Vansittart s "realists"— favouring the deal—and Mr. Eden's "idealists"—opposing any con-cession-is fast embroiling the whole nation, Press, and Parliament. - The issue was finally put off temporarily. "Our problem is, are we, willing to go to war to. save the: Anglo-French . position 'in ..Central Europe?" was the terse, resume of a| leading Whitehall figure.