The Hub of Diplomatic Tension
From Our German Correspondent Since Lord Halifax made his " private" trip to the international Hunting Exhibition in Berlin, Germany's official and unofficial diplomacy has been very busy. A considerable number of distinguished visitors were received in Berlin and Munich, and German statesmen and Nazi leaders have toured many European and overseas countries.
Italy Inundated
Italy is, of course, inundated by hundreds of Nazi leaders of higher and lower rank who believe that they must contribute. to the solidity of the RomeBerlin axis by paying visits—at the expense of their respective Nazi formations—to Fascist organisations of the same category. Receptions are given and speeches exchanged which fill several columns in the German press almost every morning.
Herr Darr& German Minister of Agriculture, paid an official visit to Italy and attended the ceremony of Mussolini distributing prizes to the most efficient fighters" of the " corn battle." The numerous friendly visits from one end of the " axis " to the other will culminate in May, when Hitler will tour Italy and when the Fascist regime will do its utmost to make things at least as enormous and solemn as the. Nazis did in the case of Mussolini's visit to Germany.
4` Strength Through Joy " Liners
The intimale friendship with Japan has had as its consequence that many leading Japanese are coming to Germany on official or " private" visits. Great numbers of Nazi agents are being sent to Japan, many of them as " advisers" for the organisation of the Olympic Games which are to be held in 1940 in Tokio, where by far the strongest foreign team is expected from Germany.
All the Tourist liners of " Strength through Joy " will carry Germans to Tokio for the Olympic Games.
The Nordic Society
Scandinavia has been another favourite object of Nazi agents and more or less official diplomats. Alfred Rosenberg is the leader of the " Nordic Society," which is practically a centre for Nazi propaganda in Scandinavia and sends regularly prominent Nazis into the Nordic countries.
Germany and the Balkans
Hungary's Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary were recently given a very hearty welcome. Trade and " intellectual " relations were discussed. Even more efforts were made last week for the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary of Yugoslavia, Mr. Stoyadinovich.
It was one of Dr. Schacht's best achievements in the last two years to intensify the economic relations between Yugoslavia and the Reich.
That has, of course, far-reaching political consequences. With the new semiNazi government in Rumania and the increased German influence in Belgrade it has become easy to attain one of the essential ends of Hitlerite foreign policy, namely to isolate Czechoslovakia from her two partners of the Little Entente.
Prague Makes Concessions
The Prague government seems already to be strongly impressed by that obvious weakening of its international position. Negotiations are going on with Berlin, and Prague is apparently going to make far-reaching concessions.
German citizens living in Czechoslovakia will be allowed to form Nazi organisations--under the control and responsibility of the German Legation in Prague—and any political anti-Hitlerite activities of German refugees on Czechoslovakian territory will he prohibited. Most refugees have already been ordered to change their domicile from Prague or Brno to a little rural district in the centre of the country. Their newspapers have been advised to cease publication or to choose another country for publication.
Dr. Strasser, with his Deutsche Revolution and other publications of the "Black Front and the " German Front against the Hitler System " has left Czechoslovakia for an unknown destination.
Czechoslovakian newspapers are to be instructed to moderate their attitude towards the Third Reich, while Germany is to promise to stop its anti-Czech press and radio campaign. That is what is called " the press truce."