BUSY DIPLOMATS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23517, 4 June 1938, Page 9

BUSY DIPLOMATS

ANGLO-FRENCH PACT AIR CO-ORDINATION SCHEME , MORE MACHINES NEEDED (From Our Own Correspondent! (By Air Mail) LONDON. May 4. High diplomacy has moved fast in Europe during the past few weeks, and has produced pacts and; agreements at a remarkable pace. Britain, for instance, has followed the Anglo-Italian agreement with the pact with Eire, and almost simultaneously the AngloFrench agreement. The last of these has probably produced more solid satisfaction among the populace of Britain as a whole than either of the two that preceded it. There has all along been a feeling that amid talks with Fascist Powers, an effort should be made to reassure France and give her every support in overcoming the multitude of troubles with which she has been beset.

The exceptionally warm welcome accorded M. Daladier and M. Bonnet and their invitation to stay at Windsor Castle have perhaps been an outcome of that feeling.

RECEPTION IN BERLIN It is significant that more importance is attached to this latest pact in Germany than has been the case with these which preceded it. The Berlin correspondent of the Observer says that the plans for close military co-operation between Britain and France have made a profound impression, and have produced quite a shock in Germany official circles. It represents a scheme of co-operation that has been feared in Berlin for five years. German writers cannot conceal their Irritation that France has achieved this aim without having to sacrifice the Franco-Soviet Pact, it is added. The agreement is bound to affect Hitler’s talks with Mussolini in Rome. The aspect of the agreement which has been greeted with most enthusiasm In Britain Is the implication of close co-operation henceforth between the Air Forces of the two countries. The Arrangement of March 19, 1936, provided only for co-ordination of the armies and navies. A unified air command is not in question, but talks are to begin shortly between the Air Force high commands on the pooling of aircraft, bases and equipmeiit in an emergency. This has done something t 9 allay the mild panic which has arisen in the past few weeks over Britain’s own aircraft building programme. The despatch of the mission to America to investigate the purchase of aeroplanes was taken in many quarters as an admission that the plans, made . for construction at home had proved inadequate. This was followed by the setting up of a committee under Earl Winterlon to read rapidly with more orders for aircraft and to hasten existing building plans. Scheme F, which visualised a first-line strength of 1750 machines by next March, has been abandoned, and the country will be driven to the limit of its peace-time productive capacity. :/ GROWING DISPARITY WITH GERMANY

Even so. responsible opinion is expressing fears that the position will still not be satisfactory. Major C. C. Turner, air correspondent of the Daily Telegraph and Morning Post, says there is reason to believe that Germany is how able to produce 3DO or more aircraft a month, compared with Britain’s 200, with, consequently, an accumulating disparity in strength. He adds that Germany is believed to be able to double her present output. and although the new speed-up in Britain may double production, it is thought In well-informed quarters 'that measures should be taken to treble pr even quadruple the present rate of building. -• One of the most important matters to which the new committee will have to turn its attention is the working of the shadow factory scheme. The, air correspondent of the Observer says there Is evidence that it is badly out of step, with some works producing units at a much higher rate than others. Similar reports are circulating of serious “bottlenecks’* which are holding up otherwise completed machines for the lack of certain vital, parts. It Is stated, for instance, that a proportion of the completed machines still lack the gun turrets for which they were designed.

BANKERS ALARMED The Daily Mail says that London bankers are gravely alarmed at the lack of progress in air rearmament and that private discussions have been proceeding concerning the possibility of concerted action to impress their misgivings on the Government. . ' ’ In the circumstances great interest will attach to the statement Lord Winterton will make' next week in the House of Commons in which, he has "said, he will “be able to present a much better picture of what has been done in the past, whkt is being done in the present and what will be done in the future than public critics and even some friends of the Air Ministry at present suppose is possible.” Meanwhile with labour disputes at an end, French arms factories are not only working the full 40-hour week, but have extended it in many cases to 45 hours, the result being that aircraft production is beginning to recover some of the time lost.

NEW AMBASSADOR The outcome of the Anglo-Frencn talks on the Central European situation isdikely to be. according to a wellinformed source, that France will urgeon President Benes and Dr Hodza the expediency of making still further concessions to the Sudeten Germans, while the British Government suggests to Germany an answering spirit of conciliation. In the circumstances, interest attaches to the arrival In London this week of the new German Ambassador, Dt Herbert von Dircksen. Large and bald-headed. Dr von Dircksen has not previously held a diplomatic post in Western Europe, though he has held office in Moscow. Since his sudden recall from Tokio three months ago he has made an intensive study of AngloGerman relations and has been working in close touch with his departmental chief and predecessor in London, Herr von Rippentrop. Both have also had long talks with the British Ambassador in Berlin, Sir Nevile Henderson.

Dr von Dircksen is a keen sportsman and hopes to play both tennis and golf while in England. Music is one oI his chief interests.