Evening star., 1938-10-13
BRITISH PREPARE
TO BATTLE REICH
Continued Arms Expansion
Appears to Be Aimed
at Germany Alone.
By WILLIAM H. STONEMAN.

BY WILLIAM II. STONEMAN,
Chicago Daily News Foreign Correspondent.
LONDON, Oct. 13-Great Britain
already is looking forward to the dark
day when Reichsfuehrer Adolf Hitler,
turning his thoughts from Eastern
Europe to lands beyond the seas, will
ask or demand that Britain and
France surrender Germany's pre-war
colonies to the Reich.
This, apparently. is the simple ex-
PLANTATION for Britain's sudden deci-
sion to speed up her rearmament pro-
gram and to increase her home de-
lenses to unprecedented proportions
at the very moment when most re-
sponsible Britishers have finally rec
onciled themselves to letting Hitler
have a free hand In Central and East
ern Europe.
Since Britain's naval power is al
ready at its peak and the present pro-
gram for expansion of the air force
seems suficient to provide for any
eventualities in the Mediterranean,
Britain would not seem to require any
serious expansion Of her forces if only
Italy were the potential enemy. Yet
such serious expansion is already on
the books and in practically every de-
tail it seems to anticipate war with
only one power namely, Germany.
National Service Expensive.
Germany is the only country against
which Britain's somewhat shoddy but
nevertheless massive and expanding
anti-aircraft defenses can possibly be
intended 1t also seems probable that
the national service" for which all
Tory newspapers now are clamoring
could only e>required If this country
were to fight Germany. Finally. these
measures will be so expensive that they
could be resorted to by sane gov
ernment only If 1t were pretty sure that
they would be needed.
Immediately after the Czech crisis
many people felt that the British gov
eminent had failed to defend that
country only because Of the inadequacy
OF its defenses. Consequently, they
are inclined to accept the decision to
strengthen the country's defenses as a
sign Of the governments determine
ton to step in and check Germany on
the next similar occasion. 1t is now
generally recognized. however, that the
government does not have any serious
intention of checking Germany any
where in Europe-outside the low coun-
tries and France-and that this frantic
cry for more arms and better defenses
must have another motive. Colonies
seems the only answer.
While it remains to be seen what
Britain will do when Hitler tackles
the colonial question seriously, the
chances now are that he will get little
satisfaction. In any event. Downing
Street will not be prepared for any
such hasty bargaining as that which
went on in Berchtesgaden, Godesberg
and Munich, when only Central Europe
was at stake. and it will want to be
in position to turn down any ultimate
which Hitler may have to offer. 1t
will undoubtedly be able to do SO If
Britain's air defenses are ready.
Colonies Mentioned.
Hitler mentioned the matter Of
colonies to Prime Minister Neville
Chamberlain during the .Godesberg
meeting, but in vague terms. There
Is one awkward question-the colonies, +"
he told the Prime Minister, but that
Is not matter for war: there will be
no mobilization about that"
Now the question seems to have
gone further with the statement by
a Nazi spokesman yesterday that Ger
many wanted nothing more nor less
than the return of all the colonies
she lost by the last war. 1t Is also
announced that DR.. Hjalmar Schacht,
president Of the Reichsbank, has es-
tablished a special department in the
Reichsbank to study problems con-
nected with the establishment Of new
colonial currencies.
Although Mr.. Chamberlain may be
prepared to give Germany ma jor Co
lonial concessions, and many British
ers would regard such concessions Is
just, the attitude of the dominions
would probably prevent him from
doing So At least. there will be no
repetition Of Munich In this case.
(Copyright, 1898, BY the Chicago Daily
Nevs Incl