Evening star., 1938-02-05
BR|TA|N'S CABINET
TO 0D|SCUSS HITLER
Europe Apprehensive Over
Effect Abroad of
Nazi Coup.
BY the Associated Press.

by TIC hoSOCldtSQ fISSS.
LONDON. Feb. 5.-Britain's key
cabinet ministers were summoned
hurriedly to the foreign offic today to
consider the rapidly changing Euro
pean situation caused by Germsny's
drastic government shake-up and the
new outbreak of Mediterranean piracy.
The German developments were be-
lieved to have been of chief concern
as Europe watched apprehensively to
see where the Naziflcation of the
German Army and diplomatic corps
would lead Germany abroad.
In>kip Speeds to London.
Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain
remained in close contact from Birm-
ingham. where he made an address
yesterday. but Sir Thomas Inskip.
minister for coordination of defense
in whom the empires rearmament
plans center. broke engagements to
hurry back to London.
Closeted also with Foreign Secretary
Anthony Eden were Sir John Simon,
chancellor of the exchequer; Viscount
Hallsham. the lord chancellor: Al
fred Duff Cooper. first lord of the
admiralty. and Malcolm Macdonald,
secretary of the dominions
Diplomats Summoned.
The ranking diplomats Of the
United States. Germany and Belgium
were summoned to the foreign Office
while the ministers were meeting.
They were DR.. E. Woermann, Ger
man Charge dAffaires; Herschel
johnson. United States Charge DAFT
faires. both of whom head their en-
bassies in the absence of ambassadors.
and Belgian Ambassador Baron de
Cartier de Marchienne.
Uneasiness over the security of Gen.
tral Europe and the possibility of in
creased Italian and German interven-
ton on behalf of the Spanish insur-
gents was evident in official and dip
lomatic quarters
Grave fears were expressed by
diplomatic circles here that the strong
German military machine. driven by
Nazi impulse. might contemplate a
putsch in Australia further the
scope of National Socialism.
Spanish Influence Watched.
Britain and France. pouring their
warships into the Mediterranean to
combat molestation of merchant ship
ping. also watched anxiously for any
indication that the German Army
reorganization with Reichs-Fuehrer
Hitler in supreme direct command.
might involve Spanish affairs
The two nations particularly were
alert for any signs that Hitler, with
Premier Mussolini of Italy. might be
planning increased Spanish inter-
vention to help insurgent Generals
slmo Franco. whose war machine
presently appears begged down after a
year and a half of fighting.
The two democracies, meantime,
Kept their eyes also on Mallorca,
Mediterranean Spanish insurgent base
which both nations regard as a threat
to security in the great seas.
German Aims Abroad.
Return of war-lost colonies, Nazifi-
cation of Austria, complete elimina-
tion OF non-German control of Dam
zig. and better treatment of German
minorities, especially in Czechoslovakia
these are some of the known German
hopes In foreign affairs.
When and how Hitler will press for
their realization is his own secret, but
the method doubtless will depend in
part on how yesterdays shake-up
works itself out.
British circles were not displeased
by the recall of Ambassador Joachim
Won Ribbentrop, but likewise they
were not joyful at elevation OF the
ardent Nazi to the key job of German
foreign minister.
There was belief here that Ulrich
Won Hassell, retiring Ambassador to
Rome, would replace Won Ribbentrop
In London, and that Won Papen would
go from Vienna to Rome.