The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-07-08

BY H. r. KNICKERBOCKER
CWorId Copyright, 1881, by International
News Service. Reproduction in whole
or part strictly prOhiblted.)
LONDON, July 8.-All the gold
end all the diamonds ever taken
cut of the mines of South Africa,
richest in the world, from the be-
ginning until today are estimated
at about $500 million dollars.
That is the sum Great Britain now
officially proposes TO spend for re-
armament. All this wealth is less
by $500 million dollars than the
10000 million dollars BritiSherS
are now convinced they actually
will have to spend for arms within
five years.
Against whom are these vast ex-
penditureS directed? Officially the
British government declares
against nobody" only for peace.
Officially Neville Chamberlain,
now prime minister, declared 1T
would not be in the public interest
to set out theory Of whom. we
are goins to fight, or who might
be our allies"
Germany Chief Foe
Cnofficially, and to the certain
knowledge of anyone who has fol-
lowed the long and painful prog
ress of Britain from her postwar
military weakness to her present
gigantic efforts to come back, her
potential enemies and her friends
are clearly divided. Germany. in
the eyes of Britain, is the No. l
potential enemy; Italy the No. 2;
Japan the No. 3.
Behind the choice" of Germany
as enemy number one lies the con-
sideration which has guided Brit
ish foreign policy since before
Napoleon's time: That England
most oppose the strongest power
on the Continent, and never per.
init a single power to dominate
the Continent for fear that the
boss of Europe might become the
boss of Britain.
Britain took long time to make
up her mind about Germany.
Until Hitler came to power, France
for II years had been strongest,
so Britain frequently supported
Germany. Now it is possible to
run off, as in a swift movie, the
events which led Britain to decide
definitely that Germany had to
be opposed. Britain saw four
eventful years fundamentally
change Europe.
FOUR EVENTFUL YEARS
1888: Hitler came to power,
January; ReichStag burned and
all civil liberties were abolished.
February; Germany Withdrew
from League and World Court,
October.
1884: Germany signed 1O-year
nOnaggresSiOn pact with Poland
to protect herself while arming,
January; Hitler purged his
party, made army predominant,
June; Nazis aSSasSinated Doll
fuss in Austria, MuSSOlini mObi1-
lied and Hitler disavowed re-
spOnsibility, July; Hindenburg
died, Hitler became supreme die
tatOr, August.
1885: Germany recovered
the Saar, January; denounced
military clauses of Versailles
and reinStated CONSUMPTION,
March: made agreement to
keep German naval strength
to One-third Britain'S, June.
1886: Germany reOccupied
Rhineland, denounced LOcarnO
and left her relations with
France bare of any promise
not to attack, March; decreed
twO-year military service,
August; announced fOur-year
plan for "war economy" to
make Germany Independent,
September; announced close
understanding with Italy, re.
cOgniZed Franco government in
Spain. formed an alliance with
the japanese, November. ...
The fifth year of Germany'S
third reich found her soldiers in
Spain. even though limited to