Evening star., 1939-04-02
English Experts
Confident of
Superiority
by the Associated Press.

duIHOIlCleS SINllcu uIoudlLluly W.
night at Adolf Hitler's threat to de-
nounce the British-German naval
treaty and there was no indication
that he had swerved Britain from
her joint pledge with France to de-
fend Polish independence.
High naval experts pointed out
not only that Britain had tremen-
dous superiority over Germany in
naval power, but also that the COM
binel British-French fleets were
stronger than the combined Ger
manhattan fleets by margin of
more than two to one.
Hitler'S retort at Wilhelshaven,
Germany, to Prime Minister Cham
berlains statement yesterday in the
House of Commons of British
French guarantees to Poland came
as British diplomats tried to map
new armed strategy to meet Ger
man strength with her own.
Seeks to Rally Rumania.
Britain reassured Poland of the
breadth of her pledge and sought to
rally Rumania, another German
neighbor in the path of possible
Nazi expansion. to similar solidarity
with the Anglc-French front as a
second step toward building a wide
stop Hitler" bloc in Europe.
The visit that Polish Foreign Min
lister Joseph Beck is expected to
make here Monday assumed even
greater importance after the Reichs-
fuehrer's implied threat to Poland
Foremost problem to be discussed.
1t was believed, will be the status of
the free city of Danzig, territory
taken from Germany after the
World War to give Poland an out
let to the Baltic at the head of the
Polish Corridor
Will Not Renounce Rights.
Poland was understood 10 be will
ing to substitute for theoretical
League of Nations control Ger
man-Polish joint rule over the free
city but not to renounce her rights
in 1t. Nominally, Danzig is gov
erned by League of Nations COM
mission but actually all its officials
are Nazis and its laws are based on
German Nazi law However. Dan
zig is within the Polish customs
administration.
Poland also was understood to
want loan from Britain and
emigration facilities for Jews she
may want to emigrate.
In return. it was believed. Poland
would reciprocate Britains defense
pledge, making Mr.. Chamberlain S
declaration two-sided British
Polish military alliance.
Won't Bewail Loss of Treaty.
An indication of the British view
on the naval treaty with Germany
was given in the House of Commons
10 days ago by Admiral of the Fleet
Sir Roger Keyes. retired naval Off
Ger and a member of Parliament,
who said:
Il would shed no tears if the
Anglo German naval agreement
were denounced. l do not think it
is worth the paper it is written on
Godfrey Shakespeare, undersec-
retary of the admiralty, also re-
Gently declared that if Germany
wiped out the treaty, Britain would
be released from her obligation to
scrap five old battleships.
Shakespeare told the House of
Commons. I'VE believe our fleet so
strong today that it can confidently
accept a direct challenge in battle
by any probable combination of
foes
Last December 80 Germany took
advantage of a clause in the pact,
which restricts her generally to 35
per cent of British naval tonnage,
to announce her intention of build
ing up to parity with Britain in
submarine tonnage.
Informed British naval sources,
however. cited what they considered
would be important reasons why
Hitler would have no desire to get
into capital ship race with Britain.
They pointed out:
!. 1t would be too expensive.
2. Britain has an advantage in
men and materials available.
3. The building of capital ships
See LONDON page A-12D