Evening star., 1938-10-30
Britain Speeds Diplomacy
To Meet Hitler's 1899 Threat
Crisis Leading to Munich Peace Revealed Gaping
Holes in Armor That Are Hastily
Being Repaired.
By James B. Reston and Fred yanderschmid.
Br James B. ReSfOn and Fred Tanderschmidf
OF the Associated

>
Correspondence OF
LONDON.-Britain, terrified by her own
self-admitted defenselessness. is working
with fatalistc tranquility toward the next
European crisis.
Already there is talk Of trouble in the
spring.
Then. say the prophets Hitler will de-
mand the return OF his war-lost colonies
or move on the granares and refneries of
Rumania
And then, say the British Britain must
be strong.
Britain knows now that the threat OF
war is fundamental Of Nazi diplomacy.
She supports that modern paradox: That
armaments must increase If disarmament
is to be possible. And she admits that
every major European power must be in
vulnerable to attack from the air
Admitting this. Whitehall officials have,
first Of all. turned to the mistakes and reve-
lations of the last crisis to prepare for the
next.
What the Crisis Revealed.
In that tragic final week of September
1t is now generally admitted
That Britain's modern frst-line planes
were numerically below the necessary
standard;
That her anti-aircraft guns were deficient
in quantity and antiquated in quality:
That the vast air raid precautions scheme
begged down for lack of men and or
ganzation
That only one-seventh Of the auxiliary
fire brigade staff was available
And that the public was neither or
ganized nor prepared for anything like
modern warfare.
Investigation since the crisis revealed
many gaps.
In the first place there was widespread
shortage Of medium-sized gas masks.
Gas Shelters Unavailable.
Parents were told to take their babies to
the nearest gas-proof shelters, but there
were no public gas-proof shelters.
Food boarding and pronteerins, in
single week, were general.
Carelessness with gas masks after the
crisis was so evident that hundreds of
masks were found in alley dustblns.
A reporter visited one of the Royal Air
Force fighter squadrons the week after the
crisis In this group there were 26 first
line fighters. Out of this only three were
modern Hawker Hurricanes, which have
a top speed of around $40 miles an hour.
The rest were Gauntlets with top speed Of
only 230 miles an hour.
The night before the Munich peace was
signed. this airdrome and every plane had
been camouflaged for action. 1t is indicative
of the present state of the British official
mind that orders have been issued to keep
the squadron on an emergency basis.
Since the crisis, the third phase in the
modernization Of the territorial army has
been announced. and it has been stated
that the A. r. P. will be put on a perma-
nent basis
Critics of the government insist that A.
R. P should not only be put on perma-
nent basis, but should form a separate
department of the government with cabi-
net minister in charge
Secret Survey Demand in Offing.
Gay, there probably will be agitation from
the Left and Center for secret investi-
cation into the country's defenses, and for
some form of national service to bolster
the A. R. P.
Prime Minister Chamberlain's repeated
statements that the government was doing
everything it could to make the nation
secure was followed by his admission that
it was not secure enough to make his di-
plomacy at Berchteseaden effective He
will face criticism in the coming session.
Even on his own side of the House it is
felt that Britain must not be forced to carry
Hitler's ultimatums when the next crisis
comes.
Chamberlain faces the clearcut task dur
ing the coming Parliament of mobilizing a
willing but bewildered nation for defense.
At home the prime minister's job is just
as complex as it is abroad.
Since the passing Of the crisis, the ma
tion's leadership has anxiously demanded
some English substitute for CONSUMPTION to
enable this country to catch up with Ger
many-the very power which Chamberlain
is determined to "appease."
Large sections Of the press have ex-
pressed disappointment that the prime
minister, in Commons, reiterated his oppo.
sition to peacetime conscription itself.