The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-09-15
KEEPING UP
With
THE NE WIS
RY LI1nLOW DENIM

Is LCOLOW OEINANA
WASHINGTON, Sept. 15.-Wnile
American officials are worrying over
the reported Anglo-French ALI
ance," that agreement Is driving
Germany into the arms of Soviet
Russia, according to reports in diplo-
matte circles here.
Closer relations and cooperation
between Moscow and Berlin would
have a major effect upon the inter
national situation, it is said.
In addition to the accord between
Paris and London, new eastern
trend of German displomacy is
stimulated by the League Of Nations
speech of BRAND French minister,
questioning the good faith of Ger
many's demand that the Allies begin
to disarm as they promised to do
after disarming Germany.
The fact that BRAND is believed
to be ready to make certain con-
cessions to Germany in the impor-
tant matter of allied evacuation OF
the so-called second zone OF the
Rhineland has not stopped the fear
spreading among Germans that they
should be looking eastward for
strength, according to these reports.
A third factor is economic. Caught
in the increased competition OF the
postwar era, shorn Of her colonial
markets and raw materials, and
shut out of other markets by high
tariff walls, Germany is described
as in greater need of a commercial
entente with Russia.
THIS trend is something more
4 than a speculative presumption
of diplomatic gossip. With unex~
pected rapidity is already has pro-
duced concrete results. Among these
are:
/. Berlin has expressed willing
ness to resume negotiations for q
trade agreement with Moscow.
Q. Krupp, formerly the great
munitions corporation and now one
of the chief German industrial
units, just has renewed an agree
ment with the Soviet involving the
largest agricultural concession in
Russia.
Popular German resentment over
the reported renewal of the pre-war
Franco British alliance" is eX-
planned in part by the high hopes
entertained in Germany because of
the Locarno security pacts.
The Locarno settlement, coming at
a time of extreme friction and dis
trust in central and western Europe.
was welcomed as evidence that
France and Britain hereafter were
to treat Germany as an equal.
But, say the Germans, if it is
true, as believed by usually we'll
informed persons, that London and
Paris have arrived at military
naval understanding, the Locarno
spirit is dead. For the heart of the
Locarno idea was that Britain
should go to the aid of the victim
in the event either Germany or
France were the aggressor against
the other.
In that sense the Locarno pact
made Great Britain in effect a neu-
trail arbiter, armed with police pow
ers. Obviously Great Britain can
not be a neutral, and should not be
trusted as a policeman, if she has
any sort of separate arms or policy
agreement with France, the Ger
mans argue.
This is bad enough from the Rer-
lin point of view, but there is the
added fear that London has pledged
itself to support, or at least not to
oppose, Frances determination to
maintain her present large army
and defend the system of comscrip-
ton.
GREAT BRITAIN'S acceptance
NJ of THIS French military policy
is believed to be the payment"
France received for agreeing to
support the British naval plan as
against the American plan for
cruiser limitation.
To Germany the alleged military
feature of the Franco-British accord
is thus even more serious than the
naval feature is to the United
States. Because the United States
is at least free to reply by building
up to Britains cruiser strength.
while disarned Germany is unable
under the Versailles "victors' peace"
to counter Frances alleged mill
tarism.
Germany's swing toward Russia
under these circumstances is re-
garded as all the more significant
because Berlin four years ago tried
the same expedient with doubtful
et1ocaec