CONCERN IN BERLIN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20107, 29 November 1939, Page 8

CONCERN IN BERLIN

;! ATTITUDE OF RUSSIA CLEAVAGE IN AXIS RIBBENTROP’S ERRORS LONDON, Nov. 9. Berlin’s alarm over Germany's policy towards Russia and Italy dominates the situation there, overshadowing ; the military aspects of the war. The sudden recall of the German j Ambassadors from Rome and Moscow jis commented upon in diplomatic I circles. These abrupt recalls flash | the limelight on the failure of the J policy of the German Foreign Minis- , ter. Herr von Ribbentrop. Tills failjure includes his fundamental mistake \ in assuming that there was no eastern. I southern, or central European issue on which Britain would fight and Russia's j gain of all the major benefits so far | from the Russo-German agreement, j Large sections of the German public, including practically the entire officer class, have been antagonised.

Hitler's Anxiety. ! Herr Hitler is in constant consultation with the German Air Minister, | Field-Marshal Goering, and Herr von I Ribbentrop about the best way in | which she should conduct herself tojwards -Russia and Italy to secure ' greater support for the Nazi cause from Russia than speeches from M. Molotov and to break down Italy's | unrelenting hostility towards BolshevI ism.

| Herr Hitler regards so seriously ■ Signor Mussolini’s refusal to be drawn ! into any war in co-operation with a 1 Nazi Germany, linked by treaty with Bolshevism, that he is contemplating j dispatching Field-Marshal Goering by i plane to Rome at the first opportunity j to try to persuade Signor Mussolini to I realise the “wisdom” of the RussoGerman pact as an. instrument designed to overthrow British power. No date has been fixed for FieldMarshal Goering's departure but, if he goes, lie will carry a personal letter from Herr Hitler, calling on Signor Mussolini to lend Germany aid, either in o material way or at least by again I taking the initiative in a peace ofl'enisive aimed at welding all the European | neutrals into a solid bloc petitioning Britain and France to call off the war |and discuss a new world at the coni ference table.

Anger at Wilhelmdtrasse I It is reported that high officials at | the Wilhelmstrasse do not completely | conceal their anger at Herr von RibI bentrop's policy towards the Soviet, j which, it is now more and more clear, | is working out exclusively in favour j of Russia. | Russia, having made great strategic I gains, now no longer stands before the | world as a land of mystery, whose ; policy is a web of dark intrigue. M. I Molotov's speech is believed to have I defined Russia’s aims as clearly as ] anyone could wish —a free hand in in- | ternational affairs, continuation of her I policy of neutrality, and the cessation I of the war. I The discontent in these official | circles —of the extent of which Herr I Hitler is reported to be becoming | aware —is said to exist because, inj.stead of M. Stalin blossoming into the l fairy godmother of Germany, as Herr Ivon Ribbentrop predicted, they set ; him provoked to mirth such as the ancient walls of the Kremlin have not known since the days of Ivan the Terrible, as he reaps with astonishing speed the fruits of the Russo-German ! pact.

i The Copenhagen correspondent, of I the Daily Telegraph, bearing out these views, states: “The tide of public opinion continues to rise against Herr von Ribbentrop's policy. Any further increase in the Soviet hold over Northern Europe will be looked on with the utmost disfavour by the German ! officer class, which regarded any bargain with communism as undesirable, j unless it provided much-needed milijtary support.”

Fears of Neutrals. Diplomatic circles in London and ! Paris believe that the stale of siege ! proclaimed in Holland, which is proof 'of the growing anxiety of neutral countries within range of German scion, tis largely attributable to the Russo-German Pact, which wrought such drastic changes in the Baltic States. Consequently, neutral States ; are described as appearing at a loss to solve the riddle of Germany s I military preparations. They are wondering what may be in store foi them.

According to diplomatic information from a neutral source, the speedy and efficient methods employed by the Soviet to reduce Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to vassalage have made a deep impression on Herr Hitler and his entourage and it is wondered whether Herr Hitler will be tempted to copy these methods. If Germany could use Dutch air bases for attacks on England and Scotland it would be greatly to Germany’s advantage. Diplomats believe that invasion of neutral territories might very well be ruled out jon the ground of inexpediency, but they think that pressure might be : brought to bear on them on the pretext of guarding against “indirect aggression.’’ It is believed in Paris that there are indications that the Nazi leaders already have discussed measures of this nature.