ESCALATION RIGHTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 2, 4 January 1939, Page 9

ESCALATION RIGHTS

APPARENT FAILURE OF BRITISH MISSION

NAZIS SEE MENACE

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.)" ; LONDON, January 2. The Australian Associated Press says that the effect of the reply thatAdmiral Raeder gave to Vice-Ad-miral Cunningham, leader of the , British Admiralty mission which went to Berlin on December 29, was that the German decision to exercise the escalation rights under the London. Naval Treaty was necessitated by Britain's disinclination to relax her' armament programme. It is also stated that the decision was' influenced by the growing lack of sympathy in the United States for the Ger- ■ man viewpoint, .and by the alleged menacing nature of the United State* huge armament plans. Notice of the naval escalation decision , was conveyed to Britain, on December . 12, but the news was suppressed until v after the arrival of the mission in Berlin so as to enable every endeavour to be made to .dissuade Germany from renouncing the restrictions. These en* deavours apparently failed. CLAIMS FOR EXTRA CRUISERS. Nothing is known in support of re-' ports that Germany is prepared to' forgo her claims to additional cruiser^.On the contrary, it is understood that the information conveyed to the mission was more disquieting than the original announcement. Admiral Raeder" stated that the X development of the Russian Navy did not influence the: decision. The Australian Associated Press adds that disquiet resulting from the German naval move coincides with a fresh rush, of refugees from Czechoslovakia. Re-, cent applications for visas have been.as numerous as during the panic immediately after the Munich Agreement. It is stated that this is due to storiej which have- been widely circulated in Central Europe to the effect that Germany will complete the annexation ot Czechoslovakia in the early spring, and march to Poland. . BETTER RELATIONS. The German Government's reply to the points raised between the British, and German naval experts in Berlin will be dispatched in a few days, says Marshal Goering's paper, the "National Zeitung," which adds that the.' treaty will undergo extension as provided by the text and will lose nothing of its value as the only pact in the world limiting armaments. Anglo-German relations will benefit from the fact that Germany: upholds' the treaty and has no intention in the future of entering into a' new arms race at sea with Bri^ tain. Germany's voluntary limitation, does not, release her from the duty of. watching fleet-construction in Soviet Russia and informing Britain of-her. view of the matter, for the ( treaty -"is' not a scrap of paper to be ignored' at will but an instrument for trustfuland open discussion of all matters concerning mutual sea armaments. - - The article stresses that the treaty provides for yearly exchange of in-, formation, and says that Germany cannot overlook the fact that Russia novr has 150 submarines. Referring to the building' of< heavy crizisers, the article says: "The British delegation showed understanding and agreement," and remarks in conclusion that it is regrettable that official circles' in London have not contradicted at*. tacks on the new proposals.