Germans To Build Submarines

Northern Advocate, 3 January 1939, Page 5

Germans To Build Submarines

(.Received 2 p.m.) LONDON, January 2.

The Australian Associated Press says that the effect of the reply Admiral Raeder gave to Vice-Admiral Cunningham, leader of the British Admiralty delegation who went to Berlin on Thursday to talk over Germany’s naval proposals, was the German decision to exercise escalation rights under the naval treaty with Britain, necessitated by Britain’s disinclination to relax the armament programme.

It was also stated that the decision was influenced by the growing lack of sympathy in the United States for the German viewpoint, and the alleged menacing nature of the United States huge armament plans. Notice of the naval escalation (covering, the building of submarines) was conveyed to Britain on December 12.

The news was suppressed until after the arrival of the mission in Berlin, to enable every endeavour to be made to dissuade Germany from renouncing the restrictions.

These endeavours apparently failed Nothing is known to support reports that Germany is prepared to forgo her claims Tor additional cruisers. On the contrary, it is understood that the information conveyed to the mission was more disquieting than the original announcement. '

Admiral Raeder stated that the development of the Rusisan Navy had not influenced the decision. The Associated Press .adds that the disquiet resulting from the German naval move coincides with a fresh rush of refugees from Czechoslovakia. Recent applications for visas have been as numerous as during the panic immediately after the Munich agreement.

It is stated that this is due to stories, widely circulated in. Central Europe, to the effect that Germany will complete the annexation of Czechoslovakia in the early spring and march to Poland.