Evening star., 1938-02-13
Stronger Reich Foreign Policy
Hitler Aim in Army Shake,Up
Old.Schoo Diplomats Have Been Removed Con.
ciliatory Tone Held Only CamouAase in
Preparation for "The Day."

has been strengthened In the last two
months, Mussolini was sulking within his
tent at Rome He had received positive
advice that Franco was flirting with the
master minds Of the City of London, who
had almost convinced the Spanish leader
that good solid gold pounds were now of
greater importance than Italian military
support.
Following orders from Rome, the IS, 900
or 10000 Black Shirts in Spain have re-
mained inactive since the Santander vic.
tory At Tereul Francois own forces,
without Italian or German support, proved
they could do little against the republican
army. Franco repented. He sent the
City emissaries home and asked Mussolini
for his forgiveness. 1t was granted. The
next week pirate submarines made their
appearance in the Mediterranean.
Franco Accord With London Known.
AS reprisal for London's intrusion. the
submarines and bombers concentrated on
British shipping. A queer coincidence
these attacks were renewed shortly after
Lloyds Of London had announced that the
insurance rates on vessels aid freight going
into the Mediterranean would be oras-
tically reduced. The Lloyds underwriters,
who are In close touch with the City
moguls, knew. or thought they knew, that
an agreement between London financial
houses and Franco had been reached.
The diversion in the Mediterranean is
designed, of course, to worry the shaky
new French government of M. Chau-
temps and to keep the British fleet in the
West at time when sharp statements
regarding the Far East have come from
Washington. at time when the American
chief of naval war plans, Capt. Argersoll,
arrived In London to discuss routine mat
tiers" with the British admiralty chiefs;
at time when the State Department. in
conjunction with the British and French
foreign offices, issued another note to
TOXIC on naval construction plans.
But the diversion is believed to smoke
screen more important move-Hitler,s
"drang mach osten" tmarch toward the
east operations, which Der Fuehrer has
had as an objective ever since he con.
celved the idea of a German totalitarian
neo-pagan state.
Ihe diplomatic preparations for such
a move were completed when lusoslayia
and Rumania, the two most important
members Of the Little Entente, Joined in
TACT, if not formally, the Berlin Rome
axis. Czecfoslovakia, the only remaining
faithful ally of France. now surrounded
by potential enemies, has t. choose b.. .
tween maintaining her opposition to the
Reich or accepting Hitler's terms. The
former policy may mean political suicide
and possible dismembern,ent of the newly
created republic, the latter 1 complete sur.
render and the continuation Of In appar.
ent status Of independence. though in fact
she will be ruled from Berlin.
Events Indicate Things to Come.
Recent troop movements on the secho.
slovak-German border indicate there is
something in the air. as do the shifts in
the high command of the Reichswehr and
in the foreign ONCE.
The removal of Ambassador .on Papen
from Vienna is also significant. 1t Is Dos
slole-the matter is of minor practical i'm.
portance-that Hitler will DECIDE to bring
about the Anschluss of Austria to the
Rsich before he begins operations on A
larger scale. This would serve to show
the world that such a union-which onlv
nve years ago would have been considered
casus belli by the French and the Little
Entehte-can be achieved without trouble.
But his main operation is bound to de.
velop toward Csechoslvakia, thence through
Rumania into the Ukraine. With Great
Britain concerned over the Mediterranean
and the Far Eastern situation, and France
concerned over her own safety-the pres.
ence Of important naval and air forces at
Palma Is considered by the French general
stan direct threat to Frances line of
communication-nothing but the resist
ance Of Czechoslovakia and Russia can
prevent Hitler from fulfilling his aims.
Their ability to hinder his plans is not
considered formidable by the new German
war lordf
Hltlers house cleaning on February 4
Is not merely a domestic gesture to unload
some undesirable members of his intimate
family 1t is without doubt the basis for
action which may fling the world into an
other turmoil.
(Copyrisht 1881