SMELL OF WAR.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume IV, Issue 224, 2 September 1936, Page 7

SMELL OF WAR.

RUSSIA AND FRANCE. German Fears For Preservation Of Peace. BOLSHEVIST MENACE. Press Association —Copyright. London, Sept. I. Whereas a few days ago Germany was loudly blaming tire “Bolshevist menace” as the sole reason for her own two-year military service decision, the blame is now being placed more on France's link with Russia, says the correspondent of the Times at Berlin. The “Bolshevist menace” does not seem to have 1 been sufficiently convincing. There is a smell of war in the atmosphere, for which tire suspicion is dawning that Germany’s own policy can at least be blamed. Moreover, Herr ’Hitler lias apparently been convinced that the two years’ compulsory service and the tax increases that followed are producing a mood more hostile to the Nazi regime than the German people have hitherto displayed. German thoughts have suddenly turned to the possibility of international discussions and armament limitation, because it is apparently felt that success in this and a general relaxation of the tension would help to restore the shattered confidence at home. It is now asserted that if France had not “fetched Soviet Russia into Europe” armament limitation could have been obtained at a comparatively low level. As it was, Germany was compelled to look to her own defence. If she is now ready to talk limitation it is probably because she now feels she has reached a reasonably satisfactory level.