Evening star., 1936-10-11
Continued From First Page.)
quite plainly that 1t was acting Il
the interests Of Germany.

Qultc pldluly Jildt IL Was dClluR III
the interests Of Germany.
In the whole complex history of the
League Of Nations attempt to coerce
Italy into keeping the peace with
Ethiopia by means of sanctions it was
obvious that the French government
of the Right, then in power under
Prime Minister Laval, was anxious
not to make a final rupture with Italy
because Of the need of an Italian
alliance, through the Locarno treaty.
against Germany. But the British
policy was actuated by somewhat diff
ferent motives. The people who mat
ter in and behind the present British
government were desperately anxious
not to weaken the position Of Musso-
lini and the Fascist government in
Rome unduly, because they were
afraid Of a government of the Left
Communist. In their eyes, coming
into power in Italy. 1t is known that
this was also the principal preoccupa-
ton Of the German government and
foreign ofilce at the time. The British
policy of not employing real sanctions
against Italy-sanctions which would
hurt-was popular in Berlin.
African Empire Menaced.
Yet, taking the long view, it was
not in Britain's interest to see a
Fascist empire" established in East
Africa, threatening not only the Brit
ish colonies but also the sea route to
India through the Red Sea. In this
matter British prestige suffered Sc
verely. Some Interior motive was be-
hind Britain's hesitations. especially
at the time when oil sanctions we're
ready for application and when some
considerable degree of American CO.
operation under the United States
neutrality laws was assured.
The motive was the secret agree
ment Of . section of the British gov.
ernment, inside and outside the cab
met, to meet Germany half way"
and come to terms with Herr Hitler
Part of the price would be free hand
for Germany against Russia in East
ern Europe. The German price is even
highter than this. 1t includes free
hand in Danzig, Austria and Czecho-
slovakia. However. it takes two to
make a bargain. And even the half
price is directly opposed to French
policy and ideas.
The scene is being prepared for q
breach between France and Britain,
even though the British terms for the
Anglo German bargain include hands
of France and the Low Countries
Holland and Belgium"
With regard to the difficult question
Of the return of the German colonies,
particularly in Africa, it is difficult to
believe that there is not some private
understanding. In the Summer of this
year Mr.. Oswald Prov. the minister
of defense IN the Union government
of South Africa, paid lengthy visit
| to London. On his return to South
Africa he declared quite openly that
important personages" in Britain
had informed him that 1t would BE-
come British policy to support a Ger.
| man demand for territorial satisfac-
| ton in Africa. Prov has apparently
been converted to the scheme.
One of the most important per-
sonages In London is Sir Robert
vansittart. permanent head of the
foreign ofice. Lady Vansittart and
Lady Phipps (wife Of the British Am
bassador in Berlin) are sisters. Sir
Robert vansittart was consistently
pro-French right up to the Summer
of this year.
In July and August he paid an
ostensibly private visit to Berlin
his wife acting as hostess at the Brit
ish Embassy for his sister-in-law, who
was away at the time-for the pur-
pose of visiting the Olympic games,
which he watched by the side Of Herr
Hitler.
Sir Robert did not discuss athletics
with the Fuehrer. Herr Ribbentrop
and Baron Won Neurath, the unoncial
and oficial foreign ministers, re-
spectively. It is desirable that the
permanent head Of the British foreign
office should keep in touch with i'm
portant foreign personages. Yet 1t Is
| to be noted that since the visit OF
Mr.. PROV, the dropping Of the sane
zionist policy against Italy and the
Vansittart visit to Berlin there has
been a change of emphasis in the Ger
man propaganda for the return Of her
former colonies or for territorial con-
csssions elsewhere in the tropical and
semi-tropical colonizable territories OF
| the world.
The agitation for colonial posses
sions has given way to the assumption
| that the matter u - good - settled!
There u Q powerful section Of the