Dr. Schacht And Dr. Funk

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 23 December 1938, Page 9

Dr. Schacht And Dr. Funk

It is reported from London that Dr Schacht failed in his mission concern ing financial arrangements In counex ion with refugee Jews, aud that Dr Funk, Gcrmau Minister of Economics wili shortly visit Loudon to discus: measures of Anglo-German comuiercia co-operation.

Dr. Funk succeeded Dr. Schacht ai Minister of Economics in November 1937, the latter resigning, it was said, because he could not approve of certain aspects of Field Marshal Goering’s Four Year Plan. His resignation left Goering as virtual economic dictator of Germany, having supreme authority over the Ministries of Economics, Labour, Finance, Agriculture, and Transport. The object of his Four Year Plan is to make Germany self-suf-ficient.

Dr. Schacht maintained his other position of President of the Reichsbank, and became Herr Hitler’s t>ersonal adviser, and Minister without portfolio. The request to he allowed to retire came from Dr. Schacht. At his own desire he continued President of the lieichsbank.

Dr. Funk, who was Under-Secretary of State in the Propaganda Ministry, assumed the title and duties of Minister of Economic Affairs for the Reich and Prussia on January 10, 1938.

Accepting Dr. Scliacht’s resignation, with great reluctance, Herr Hitler wrote to him The linking up of the organization of the Four-Year Plan with the Ministry of Economics, which has proved necessary in view of the extension of the organization of the Four-Year Plan, now’ enables me to consider the reasons with which you have repeatedly asked to be relieved of the duties of the Reich Economic Minister.

"I comply, with the expression of deepest, gratitude for your excellent work, and in the happy thought that through many years yet to come you will place your knowledge and ability and your untiring work at the disposal of the German people and of myself in your capacity as President of the lieichsbank Board of Directors. Satisfied that, in future, you will also wont to be my personal adviser, I appoint you today as Reich Minister.'* Refugee Committee Financial experts, representing Britain, France, tire United States of America and Holland on the Intergovernmental Refugees Committee are considering Dr. Schaclit’s scheme for evacuating Jewish refugees from Germany. During the sittings of what is known as tire Evian Conference in England, to consider the Jewish refugees problem, it was announced on July 9 last that Great Britain, France and the United States had reached an agreement to establish a permanent Intergovernmental Refugees Committee in London, to he presided over by an outstanding personality, probably by an American. The committee would be composed of diplomatic representatives of the Powers represented at Evian. On July 31 it was announced that Earl Winterton was to be the chairman.

It was laid down that persons coming within (he scope of the activity of this committee should be:

(a) Tlrose who have not already left their country of origin, but who must emigrate because of their political opinions, religious beliefs, or racial ori(b) Persons who have already emigrated for these reasons, and who have not yet permanently established themselves elsew’hero.

Governments represented In the intergovernmental Committee are to continue to furnish the committee with confidential Information regarding immigrant * whom each is prepared to receive under exist big laws find prac-

National Registration

Supporters ~f i| R . in-ilisli Governmeat who were critical of its proposals for national service and who tabled an amendment favouring a compulsory national register have withdrawn it in view of the Government’s suggestion that the results of the voluntary national service scheme should be reviewed at the end of March.

Speaking in tlie House of Commons last April, Mr. Neville Chamberlain said tliat a scheme for compulsory national registration in time of war, if tlie Government of the day should decide upon it. had been in existence for some years. Proposals for compulsory registration in time of peace bad also been considered but, ou balance, tlie advantages to be derived from such a plan bad been found to be outweighed by the difficulties and opposition which would have to be surmounted.

South African Defence Mr. Malcolm MacDonald said in the House of Commons that Mr. O. Birow, Minister of Defence in South Africa, had recently announced very considerable expenditure regarding defence. Mr. Birow made bis announcement on September 7 last. He said the Government intended to spend within the next three years (1938-41), £5,000,000 on defence equipment and additional weapons, and another £1,000,000 on the extension aud strengthening of the coastal defences. The total of £6,000,000 will be provided as follows: £1,000,000 in 1938-39, £2,000,000 in 193940 aud £3.000,000 in 3940-41. In regard to wars in which Great Britain might be involved, he said that South Africa would be neither automatically involved nor inveterately neutral; it would depend on how South Africa’s interests were affected. He was, however, of the opinion that ‘‘there is more than a possibility that within our generation we shall be called upon to defend ourselves against an enemy on, or beyond our northern borders; that is to say, in bush couu-

Ile said that the country, owing t>o its geographical situation, need not seriously consider large-scale gas or air or surprise attack; that there were factors in South Africa which made it useless to use the European military fighting machine as a model. The present defence scheme, lie added, represented the very minimum compatible with national safety.

Outlining the scheme, Mr. Birow said that l’ort Elizabeth and East London would be included for the first time in defence works. The defences of Capetown and Durban would also be greatly strengthened, the calibre of tlie main guns being increased from 9.2 Inches to 15 inches, to make these ports battleship-proof, as against the recommendations of the 1928 report of the Committee of Imperial Defence to make them merely cruiser-proof.