Evening star., 1936-10-18
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.
.HAT Germany must recover a
colonial empire is a matter
which Is definitely settled in


colonial empire is a matter
which Is definitely settled in
a the minds Of the German
leaders, notwithstanding diplomatic
gestures to the contrary. The only
divergence Of opinion is in regard to
the methods TO be employed TO achieve
this purpose.
The Reich oficially went on record
as claiming a colonial empire or Sep
tember this year with Adlof Hitler's
spectacular speech at the Nazi con-
vention at Nurnberg. He was blunt,
almost brutal. Hitler spoke, but the
ideas he expressed were those of the
militant Dr. Schacht, financial wizard
of the Reich. Schacht is pugnacious,
and so was Hitler in his speech. But
the president of the Reichsbank does
not belong to Der Fuehrer's camarilla.
He maintains his position of influence
in the government because he is in
diSpensable.
Now the Reichsfuehrer seems to be
relaxing and has indicated that he
intends to dissolve the Colonial
League, an organization similar to our
Navy League. The Colonial League
was vociferous in demanding the re-
turn of the German colonies which
are now inundated to France and
Great Britain.
Advice Of Won Ribbentrop.
This surprise move of Der Fuehrer
Is due to the fact that his trusted
Ambassador to London. Baron Won
Ribbentrop, is insisting that mild
methods will go further than the
mailed fist in obtaining concessions
from the British. The fact Is that
informal conversations between the
German and the British governments
regarding the colonial question were
initiated In Berlin this Summer when
Sir Robert Vansittart, the British
permanent undersecretary of state.
went to see the Olympic games. But
he spent more time with Hitler and
Schacht than at the Olympic Village.
Shortly after the Vansittart visit,
Schacht went to Paris to return the
call of the president of the Banque
de France, M. Labeyrie. There were
hints in the French and British press
that, at the two diplomatic teas which
Leon Blum gave in honor Of the Ger
man statesman, questions other than
banking policies were discussed.
Actually Schacht went to Paris to
acquaint the French government with
the minimum claims Of the Reich re-
garding colonial possessions. The
German government does not want
the old colonies back. During the
| frequent talks between vansittart and
German high officials it was pointed
out to him that the question Of col
onies is not so much matter Of pres
tige as the necessity for Germany to
possess her own sources Of raw ma
terials. And, in order that there
should no longer be conflicts about
political penetration within definite
zones of influence" the Germans are
now claiming sections of West Africa
which would in no way bring them
into conflict with France and Great
Britain in the future.
Scope OF Zone.
This zone extends. l have been in
formed, from Liberia to the Belgian
Congo and includes: Independent
Liberia, the Ivory Coast cat present
a French colony, the Gold Coast IA
British colony, Togoland, a man
dated territory; Nigeria. a British
colony and Kamerun, inundated
territory.
DR.. Schacht, who is an excellent
mathematician and statiStician. fig
ured out carefully that this territory.
enormous as it is, represents less than
the value of the colonies which the
allies took away from Germany after
the World War.
He has pointed out to Premier Blum
and to Vansittart that it would be
more advantageous for the future
peace of the world If Germany had all