POWERS' ARMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23168, 14 October 1938, Page 13

POWERS' ARMS

HINTS FB.OM BERLIN LIMITATION FAVOURED PRESS CRITICISES BRITAIN "GERMANY PERPLEXED'' By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received October 33, 7.10 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 33 There arc hints from Berlin that Germany would like to negotiate with Britain, France and Italy for the limitation of armaments. Reuter's Berlin correspondent reports that political circles are saying they are awaiting a response from Britain and France to suggestions of limitation made recently by Herr Hitler. This is puzzling London, the only reference to the subject recently being in Herr Hitler's speech at tho Sports Palace in which he repeated his frequent reminder of efforts toward the limitation of armaments. Further press comment frowns upon the British rearmament, regarding which the Frankfurter Zeitung makes typical remarks: "It is Britain's own affair if she considers the international situation warrants rearmament, but another if the moment peace is signed in Europe her policy of rearmament is intensified, taking on feverish rhythm. France also is constructing a second and a third Maginot Line. Agitation Abroad "Such exaggerated efforts perplex Germany, because they are accompanied by agitation intended to undermine the peace labours of Munich. Mr. I Chamberlain's work will lose its value in our eyes if we are given the impression it resulted from British weakness. We cannot be indifferent to the British and French rearmament wave." The Times' Berlin correspondent says reports that Germany is awaiting British and French replies to proposals for an armaments limitation agreement are not confirmed, and well-informed circles do not believe Germany has made any concrete move. The situation apix;ars to be that if there are to be armaments discussions Germany expects Britain and France to take the initiative. Britain's " War Party "

Germany is at present more concerned with the course of British politics as these affect Anglo-German relations, and appears highly dissatisfied with what she sees, especially the "stiffening of British public opinion toward Germany" duo to propaganda in sections of the British press connected with circles which Germany feels justified in describing as a "war party." It is admitted that these circles must not be confused with the British Government, but their influence on British public opinion is considered so strong that Germany cannot ignore them. Also, it is asserted that anti-German i feeling in Britain is being worked up I by the circulation of false reports of German high-handedness in the International Commission dealing with Czechoslovakia. Mussolini Truculent The Times' Rome correspondent states that Signer Mussolini yesterday associated himself with Herr Hitler's Saarbrucken speech in a statement through the official organ Informazione Diplomatica. II Duce said: "The incontestable fact is that there exist in Britain and France strong groups desiring war and openly regretting that the opportunity afforded by the Sudeten question, which they considered favourable, was not seized." The statement added that those seeking a preventive war were now too late because against tho Italo-German bloc of 125,000,000 men there was nothing to be done. This bloc commanded imposing geographical positions, strategically favourable by land, sea and air, and tho only thing to be done was to accept a real peace of the Munich pattern.

RUSSIA'S DEFENCES

HASTENING CONSTRUCTION WESTERN FRONTIER LINE ELABORATE PROGRAMME (Received October 18, 11.50 p.m.) NEW YORK, Oct. 13 Reliable reports that the Soviet is hastening the construction of a vast artificial no-man's-land across Russia's western frontier as a first line of defence against Germany liave reached diplomatic circles in Washington, says the Associated Press. The Soviet, seeing tho collapse of its efforts to forge an international barricade to the eastward around Germany, has virtually dropped everything else in order to protect the Ukrainian wheat and coal fields from invasion. Tho programme is designed to slow down and finallj* halt an approaching army and is dovetailed into the natural defences of distance and lack of communication. First there is a deforestation belt ranging from a few miles to 100 miles deep between Russia and Rumania, Poland, Latvia and Estonia. The second movo is tho depopulation of tho area and resettlement of part of tho evacuated towns and farms with trusted Red Army men and women, posing as peasants and workers while guarding the frontiers and checking illegal entry. Thirdly, the plan envisages the destruction or mining of bridges, roads and railways; fourthly, the construction of a formidable "Maginot Lino" on the western boundary; fifthly, the speeding up of railway and highway buildingbehind the lino to facilitate tho transfer of supplies and troops; sixthly, the development behind the area of huge military concentration centres and welllortified and provisioned air bases.