BIRDS OF A FEATHER.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13179, 11 February 1936, Page 5

BIRDS OF A FEATHER.

HITLER AND MUSSOLINI MAY UNITE.

DIPLOMATIC SITUATION ALARMS EUROPE.

United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, February 10. “Is Italy turning toward Germany?” The Daily Telegraph’s Berlin correspondent says the future ot the Locarno Treaty is believed to be the subject of talks which are progressing between Berlin and Rome. It is considered that an emergency might arise from the Abyssinian war which would cause Italy to withdraw from the treaty. This would afford Germany an opportunity of denouncing the Rhineland demilitarisation protocol.

Ike position now appears to be that Italy would renounce her trust as a guarantor if Hitler would make an open gesture of friendship towards Romo. Hitler hesitates on account of British susceptibilities, but is willing to meet Mussolini as far as possible in the direction of an casement of Italy’s financial difficulties and the problem of supplies though Germany’s own difficulties preclude generosity. The Daily Mail’s Paris correspondent says well-informed writers express the opinion that Italy is being impelled by the hostility of the sanctionist Powers to throw her lot in with Germany. Tile Rome correspondent of Le Temps says if the sanctiofnist movement reaches a, point compromising Italy’s future she will have no alternative but to range herself alongside Germany.

L'Ouuvrc* says Rome has found means to let Berlin understand that her policy is not indifferent to German opinion. AT. Flunciin, however, told the Council of Almisters that there was little probability of oil sanctions because the expert* agreed that an embargo would be inoperative lacking United States’ co-opera-tion. Secondly, there is little enthusiasm in the capitals of Europe for “this extremely dangerous move.” EAIPJRE UNITY INDICATED. LONDON. February 10. The Daily Mail says a White Paper at present being drafted will define Britain’s policy regarding the League and the need for the rapid expansion. of the defence forces. When it has been approved by Cabinet it will be explained tc the Do-

minion representatives to enable the working out of co-operation in Empire defence. The Times' political correspondent anticipates that the report will be presented to Cabinet on Wednesday. It will involve an expenditure exceeding £280,000,000 in the next, three years probably by loan, the whole of which need not be used if world conditions change, but popular opinion clearly favours an unmistakable demon stratum that the British Elmpi re means to pull its weight. The Aforeing Post’s naval correspondent affirms that Germany is secretly manufacturing stocks of parts foi far larger submarines than hitherto. She. will’ be* able when she chooses to put craft into service in far shorter time than similar craft could be built by other nations. The plans greatly exceed the agreed parity with the submarine tonnage of the- British Empire. BELGIUAI ENDANGERED. BR b SS-ELS. Februarv 10. AT. Dev Tze, Alinister of Defence, declared that the new danger of invasion by a motorised army necessitated the constant presence of troops on the frontier for which a Bill will shortly be introduced to reinforce the defence system. He added that the national army could at present field eighteen divisions of infantry, a corps of ehausseurs, and two 7iart-Iy-mobilised light divisions, also a cyclist corps. Three and a-half million pounds was spent on armaments in the last two years and £2,000,000 oil fortifications, enabling fortified positions in six districts, including Antwerp and Luxembourg, and the* restoration of the forts at Liege and Namur.