Evening star., 1939-01-21
Schacht Custer Held
Hint Of Nazi Push
Westward
Hitler to Support Duce
In Spring, European
Observers Feel
BY PERTINAX.


PARIS, Jan. 81 IN. AN. A.
Hjalmar Schacht's departure from
the presidency of the Reichsbank is
interpreted here to mean that
Chancellor Hitler will not, for the
sake of monetary stability, relax the
progress of German armaments and
loosen Germany's rigorous autarchy.
Al the same time, the financial
embarrassments with which he has
to contend following the annexation
Of Austria and the dismemberment
and subsection of Czecho- -Slovakia
clearly indicate it would take long
time and require fresh eXertion,
ending in the practical enslavement
of Rumania and the setting up of
Ukrainian state, to make the
scheme of Mitteleuropa paying
concern.
Turn Westward Predicted.
It is inferred from all of the above
facts by some competent observers
that the Hitlerian Reich may turn
against the Western powers sooner
than had been generally expected,
and, for that purpose. make use Of
the opportunity afforded by Italy's
claims against France.
The substitution of Economics
Minister Walther Funk for DR..
Schacht may be regarded as an in
dication that the Berlin govern
ment intends less than ever to spare
the feelings of the Anglo-Saxon
world and concede. even to the
humblest extent, an adjustment Of
mutual interests. Not to speak of
DR.. Schacht, Capt Fritz Wiedemann,
among the men surrounding Hitler,
was known to favor moderate
course toward England, France and
America. He is now appointed to
the general consulate at San Fran
cisco.
Foreign Minister Joachim Won
Ribbentrop still enjoys the Fuehrer's
unbounded favor, and his aversion
for everything English naively ex-
presses itself on every possible occa-
sion. Recently, he was telling a
visitor how he had wonderfully
transformed the German Embassy
in London when he was accredited
there. "And what impression did
it make on London society?' inter-
jected the visitor. Won Ribbentrop
blushed, and exclaimed that the
British people entirely failed to
understand him and his work.
Change in Front.
Some weeks ago, there were signs
that the next move of German
policy was likely to be made in an
eastern direction. For instance, on
October "a, Won Ribbentrop dealt
very bluntly with the Polish Am
bassador to Berlin, who emphasized
his own governments fundamental
objection to a Ukrainian undertak-
ing. Later, it was reported that a
Ukrainian legion was being recruited
in Vienna.
Today. evidence accumulates that
Hitler, when he received Polish
Foreign Minister Joseph Beck at
Berchtesgaden a fortnight ago. did
his best to assuage the fears of the
Warsaw government about Ger
manvS eventual action in Eastern
Europe and to persuade 1t to renew
and enlarge the German-Polish dec
laration of January 26, 1884, the
starting point of both countries CO.
operation of late years. Won Rib
bentrop, who is expected to reach
Warsaw January 26 on an official
journey, hopes to bring that nego-
tiation to successful end. 1t looks
very much like change of front.
Moreover, the visit paid in Berlin
by Count Czaky, the Hungarian
foreign minister, and in Belgrade
by Count Ciano, the Italian foreign
minister, are other straWs which
show where the wind blows. 1t is
believed on good authority that
Hungary's military contribution to
the Berlin-Rome axis was discussed
in the first case, and Yugoslavia' S
neutrality, on the assumption that
a Franco-Italian conflict would
break out, In the second.
Hitler to Back Duce.
AS result of these various steps
hurriedly taken by Geramn and
italian diplomacy, more and more
held is being given here to repeated
warnings that the French and Brit
tsh Governments have received and
are still receiving from diplomatic
sources, to the effect that Hitler
will not fail to lend his full support
to Premier MuSsolini when the latter
formally submits to the Paris cabi-
net his program of territorial an6
political changes in the Mediter-
ranean and Africa.
A representative of a great power
in Berlin has even gone so far a!
to announce that decision hac
been reached by the Fuehrer ane
his advisers to order a partial mo-
biliZation of the ReichsWehr to be.
gin on or around February Is. Ths
same method of concealment as en-
ployed last summer would be fol-
lowed, and military maneuver
would supply convenient pretext
Three weeks later, Germany woult
have under arms one and hal
million men. The trial of viii
would then be started in PRACTICAL.
the same manner as that OF fou
months ago.
The Netherlands which eipc