Evening star., 1935-12-29
The Nazi Menace.

Frederick T. Birchall, whose notable
European dispatches to the New York
Times won for him the latest Pulitzer
prize award in the field of special cor
respondence, has supplied his paper with
some startling information regarding
Germany's designs in the realm of arma-
ments 1t discloses that Hitler, while
observing an apparently passive role in
the conflict between Italy and the
League, is actually plotting to exploit
it to Germany's advantage. Mr. Birchalls
narrative is an ominous warning of the
peril for European peace that turks in
Nazi plans.
On December IA, Mr.. Birchall reveals,
Sir Eric Phipps, British Ambassador to
Germany, sought an audience with
Fuehrer Hitler and Foreign Secretary
Won Neurath. His purpose was to in
form them that Great Britain views with
undisguised alarm the growth OF German
ornaments. The Nazi dictator received
this communication with bad grace and
flew into rage when Sir Eric suggested
that an air pact would relieve Europes
anxiety. Hitler Illuminated that Ger
many would not listen to such pro-
posal until her former colonies were re-
stored and the Versailles war guilt"
clause was annulled. He ranted that he
was far from satisfied with the Anglo
German naval treaty, which assigns the
Reich a fleet one-third the size of the
British Navy, complaining that such
ratio is incompatible with Germany's
world power ambitions. Hitler fumed
that he did not intend to tie his hands
in such way respecting air armament
and that Germany would conclude no
pact until the Nazi air fleet has attained
interchangeable superiority over the air
forces of other European nations"
The British Ambassador was notified
that Hitler will wait for the Ethiopian
storm to blow over before engaging in
any international discussion. 1t is plain
that the Nazis hope that Britain, with
or without war, will become so hopelessly
embroiled with Italy that "the Stresa
front" - Anglo Franco Italian unity
against German rearmament-will. be
disrupted and powerful Germany again
enabled to dominate Europe. The inne-
diate effect of Hitler's explosion, accord
ing to Mr. Birchall, was to cause the
British cabinet to acquiesce in the Hoare-
Laval plan, thus propitiating Italy and
preserving the Stresa combination. 1t
looks as if these developments were what
Prime Minister Baldwin had in mind
when, before British public opinion
forced his hand, he spoke Of certain
revelations he could make if his "lips
were not sealed" and which would fully
justify the governments action.
In light of this latest exposure OF Nazi
aspirations, it is more imperative than
ever for Europe to see that the collective
effort to curb Mussolini accomplishes
that purpose in a manner so decisive
that his fellow-dictator will know that
German aggrandizement plans are
doomed to encounter the same stern
resistance.
The latest advices indicate that Ger
many is now In less truculent mood than
when Hitler uttered his defiance to the
British Ambassador and is prepared to
consider air limitation. But Of the
Reichs determination to speed up its
armament program, in order sooner or
later to be able to enforce territorial and
other demands, there is no reasonable
room for doubt.
American fortunes unite In Xedlock.