GERMAN PRESS OUTCRY.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13181, 13 February 1936, Page 5

GERMAN PRESS OUTCRY.

FEAR OF ANOTHER TRIPLE ENTENTE.

HELP FROM ITALY SCOUTED.

United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. I>l’ll 1.1 X, February 12

The German Press continues to belabour the Franco-soviet Pact, which is described as nothing less than a military agreement directed firstly against Germany.

Bitter feeling is also being expressed against Britain owing to the fear of the pre-war Triple Entente being revived.

The Berlinger Tageblatt declares: “Germany will regard the ratification of the Franco-Soviet Pact as a serious and decisive turning point in the history of Europe. It will increase tremendously the difficulties of uniting Europe and also make free •conversation between ' Germany, France and Britain more difficult.” Presumably the German. Government will not let the ratification pass without comment, but the Times 7 Berlin correspondent emphasises that there is no valid, excuse for drastic action on the ground that the Locarno Pact has been violated and none is likely to be taken. On the other hand. it is claimed that the Pact is against the spirit of Locarno, which Germany doubtless thought secured her for good against the possibility of a tw o*-f routed war. Possibly, therefore, Germany will intimate that the ratification creates a situation requiring consideration She might like to do more, but the fact that Britain stands behind the Pact is something that was not reckoned with a. week or two ago. There are no illusions about the uselessness of looking to Italy. Even the Nazi mouthpiece Angriff, which has never concealed its pro-Italian sympathies, un flatteringly refers to Italy’s present position, declaring that Mussolini must choose between calling off the Abyssinian war or going down in financial disaster within a year. BRITAIN’S EUROPEAN ATTITUDE WAR SEEMS INEVITABLE. LONDON February 11 The Manchester Guardian’s diplomatic writer says that Government quarters take a most serious view of German re-armament, though they have never regarded it lightly and did not foresee how all the moral material resources of the nation

would be subordinated to it. It is now thought in London that British re-armament must be hastened as a matter of the gravest urgency. The weakness of the collective system makes it necessary for Britain to be able to repel attack by the strongest European Power. Simultaneously every effort will be made to strengthen the collective system. Britain is more deeply involved in European affairs than at any time since the end, of the Great War.

The general opinion in Whitehall seems to be that if Britain remains aloof from Europe a general war is inevitable. War may bo averted if Britain is sufficiently strong and also takes ail active part in the consolidation of collective security. The close Anglo-French relations and the signs of concord between England and Russia have already persuaded. Rumania and Poland that the collective system is not the shaky structure it formerly appeared to be. ALL PART OF SYSTEM. Germany i s losing her belief that she can expand by dealing piecemeal with her neighbours, whom she is now realising are parts of a system to which Britain also belongs. This has caused the deepest disappointment to Herr Hitler, whose declared policy has been to detach Britain from Europe. Germany’s foreign policy is likely to become more cautious, and indications are that she will first raise the question of colonies, which does not concern raw materials. but her prestige; but British official opinion is that Germany has not the slightest chance of recovering a single colony. Germany is also likely to decide ujaon the most effective way of recovering the demilitarised zone before the end of the year, as she cannot expand eastwards or towards Austria until she has secured her rear by fortifying the demilitarised zone.