London, Feb. 2.
The Foreign Office had on January 18 received a Note from Berlin announcing that "Germany will progressively increase her submarine tonnage up to parity with members of the British Commonwealth of Nations," am official communique announced today.
The Reich's Note specified that incisures putting into effect this decision "will begin in 1939 and will continue until the treaty limit is reached. Furthermore, Germany will arm two 10,000-ton cruisers, K and L now under construction, in such a manner as to change them from being cruisers under Category B to cruisers under Category A," the Reich's Note added.
"In so doing, Germany exercises the right to which she is entitled by Treaty," the com. munique concluded.
The official despatch recalled that the Reich lizd announced íts decision in December last. Friendly discussions were thereupon held in Berlin on December 30, and after these, the German Government agreed to furni ish the British Government with a written statement, It will take Germany four years to reach parity with Britain in submarine tonnage, competent naval observers stated this evening—unless Germany considerably speeds up her rate of submarine construction.
The same quarters confirmed that the Reich was contemplating the construction of heavy submarine units between 800 and 1,500 tons, and with a radius of action far greater than that of present units which are between 250 and 600 tons.
Dealing with cruisers, these observers asserted that Germany had failed to produce any evidence that Soviet Russie wes building seven units of the heavy cruiser type.
They recalled that according to Treaty provisions, Russia could build seven such vessels if Germany built five. They emphasized that the Soviets are now likely to avail themselves of their Treaty rights—Havas.
Paris, Feb. 2.
Senator Leon Berard, one-time Minister of State, left today for Hendaye, on the Franco-Spanish frontier. It was rumoured that he was going to Nationalist Spain on a semi-ofücial mission. Upon his departure, he was hidden farewell at the station by the former Spanish Ambassador here, Senor Quinones de Leon, now residing in Paris—Havas.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.