Evening star., 1936-12-27
IW0 NEW WORRIES
FOR GREAT BRITAIN
,Germany's UItimatum to
. Spain and Colony Dis.
cussion Causes Concern.
By the Associated Press.

. 8y the Associated Press.
LONDON, December 26.-Germany's
ultimatum to the Spanish Socialist
government and the Europe-wide dis
cussion Of prospects for return Of some
Of the Reich's pre-war colonies today
gave the British government two new
items for anxious study in Europe's
crisis.
Berlins threat Of unspecifled ire
prisals" against the Madrid Valencia
regime If the steamer Palos Is not re-
leased Immediately introduced fresh
disturbing element into an already
ominous situation. London ofhcias
said.
A foreign Office spokesman charac-
terizes the outlook as "disquieting,'
but expressed hope satisfactory ad-
justment can be made.
Suggestions that some Of her former
colonies be returned as one means Of
lessening the Reich's economic Diff
culties and thereby aligning Germany
on the side of peace evokes reiteration
Of the official British contention that
all such questions must be handled
through the League Of Nations.
League Must Lead.
The British governments views re-
garding redistribution of the terri
tories gained by the allies as result
OF the great war remain unchanged,
1t was stated.
~ atV,te 1vryov ho
that the League must lead in any de-
cision relative to the lands which Brit
ain received under the Leagues man
date, and that while Hitler's coup
detat policy might be permissible in
Europe, it can not be allowed where
the former overseas colonies Of the
Reich are involved.
Moreover, the views of the British
dominions, especially the Union Of
South Africa, with regard to African
colonies, and Australia, where the Pa
ciflc islands are concerned, must be .
dominant factor in any territorial re-
adjustment, 1t was stated.
British officials, on the other hand,
were clearly alive to Germany's press
ing need for raw materials and to the
fact that the whole problem of colonies
may have to be reconsidered.
Tone Of Press Hopeful.
With first editions of the Sunday
newspapers on the streets-London's
6rst in nearly 48 hours-the British
public emerged from its newsless
Christmas celebration to realization
that a critical situation confronts Eu-
rope, with Germany's Reichsfuehrer
Hitler as the key figure.
The general tone of newspaper COM
ment was hopeful, but there was no
attempt to minimize the gravity Of the
situation arising from Germany's eco
nomic straits and the danger Of large
scale German Intervention in the
Spanish civil war.
The Sunday Express editorially ex-
pressed confidence that Germany
will not make war" in a discussion Of
reports that Herr Hitler might make
"a gamblers throw" by striking ut
Czechoslovakia or by more drastic in
tervention In Spain.
PAY no heed to such conjectures."
the Express said. "The Germans will
not make war. For one reason alone
this Is certain. Germany Is not
ready. It is very far from having
reached that stage"
France Can Not Stand Idle.
An editorial In the Sunday Times
said:
1T would be impossible for France
TO stand by indefinitely while a pow
erful German army conquered Spain
and organized 1t as q base Of opera
tions against Frances rear. Yet this
Is what the German government will
fir1d itself committed to unless at the
eleventh hour it can be induced to
halt its progress down the slippery
incline.
THE further it goes the stronger
will become the argument, from the
standpoint Of prestige, constraining
It to go further. The present stage
may be nearly the last at which it
will remain not too dificult for Ber-
ALL w WoW pdSA W PlCfCuO 4OSo4
adventure from growing into a much
wider catastrophe"
Informed circles gave little Gre
dence to reports that France and
Soviet Russia are bringing increas-
ing pressure to bear on Britain for
active Intervention in the Spanish
conflict. 1t was pointed out there is
little reason to believe France Is in any
way prepared to desert Britain's lead
to gain q temporary advantage over
Germany.
Foreign office officials said it was
mot impossible" that Britain may
Join with France, Germany and Italy
to force peace in Spain If Hitler
wtihholds all aid from the Spanish
Fascist insurgent regime at Burgos.
These off1cials asserted, however, that
such . move would be ''only q varia-
ton in the mediation proposals Of
Britain and France"
The British government waited for
1taly's reaction to latest develop
nlents surrounding the Spanish war.
especially for . rep,.- :. =. me British
and French appea. for closer CO.
operation to enforce non-intervention
IN Spain.