Evening star., 1928-06-17
CZECH POLICY STABILIZES
NEW EUROPEAN STATES
Improved Relations With Berlin Inn
portant Factor, But French Alli-
ance Is Still Intact.

Germany and Austria and q complete
reversal of Czech foreign policy which
would involve the collapse Of the French
system Of alliances in Europe and the
end Of French influence In the east ana
southeast Of Europe.
French Position Unchanged.
Such interpretations are unmistak-
ably unfounded. That the Czecho-
slovak nation should desire TO improve
it's relations with Germany Is natural.
Geographically and economically the
relations between the two countries are
close. Business and finance in each
nation has every reason to desire the
extension Of cooperation. But for q
future which is still without discover
able limit. the political interests Of
Czechosloyakia are likely to remain
identical with those of France.
French influence In Europe teday
rests upon the fact that the basis Of
French foreign policy Is the mainte-
nance of the territorial condition Great
ed by the peace treaties And for Po-
land, CZechoslovakia. Runlania and
Jugoslavia, this policy Is not only pleas
ing but in fact the foundation Of their
own continued integrity and independ-
ence.
Czechoslovakia: menaced by the Ger
man desire to bring Austria into the
Reich, threatened by the uncompromis-
ing determination of the Hungarfans TO
restore the crown of st. Stephen, which
would mean the reconqueSt Of all OF
Czechs from all approach to the Dam
ube, their single water route 70 the
south. must naturally stand with France
for the maintenance Of the status quo.
Peace Move Involved.
In all the discussions which are to-
day taking place in America over Sec
retary Kellogg's project TO outlaw war.
frequent mention Is made OF the French
treaties of alliance and a certain
amount Of irritation Is displayed In our
Official quarters over the determination
Of the French to make reservations In
their accession to the proposed treaty,
which shall leave their European con-
tracts unaffected.
Th1S irritation grows out OF the as
sumption that these treaties OF alliance
are military and aimed at maintaining
French influence and French hegemony
In Middle Europe. But while there are
unmistakably military aspects and just
as certainly French influence in CEN
trail and eastern Europe Is greatly en-
flanced by these compactS, 1t Is never
theless true that they represent alike
for France and for the succession states
the single present guarantee OF security
on the French side and OF integrity On
the other. =,
Were France to abandon all these
commitments 1t is quite clear that. IN
the future. German could at VIII re-
cover Danzig and the Polish corridor,
thus acquiring complete control OF the
economical outlets of Poland and Dy
absorbing Austria not merely add seven
millions to her population. but simuariy
Dominate Czeclloslovakia, in which u
would be able to exercise further M
fiuence through the German minority.
Gains Germany Might Make.
Thus expanded Germany would be-
come a state Of more than 10000. .0OO,
while 1t would economically dominate
the two Slav republics Of 30.000.oO0 a.
approaching $4,000 900, respectively.
This would recreate that Mitteleuropa
which the war threatened to establish,
and it would certainly beStow upon
Germany the hegemony OF Europe.
Granted that the Germany OF the pres
ent moment has sincerely peaceluhy
and frankly resigned all purpose 70 re.
store the old frontiers In the west. "
is the French conviction that were inc
Reich to be expanded TO INCLUDE Austrh
and control Poland and Czechoslovakh
there would be real danger OF the re-
turn of the aspiration to recover Al
sace-Lorraine and even to acquire Eel
gium with the great port OF Antwerp.
Europe today Is divided between two
sets of powers, those which seek &c
preserve the status quo and those which
aspire to obtain revision OF the
treaties of peace made in 1913. In
evitably France is the head OF the first
group, while Germany, once she re-
covers her territorial freedom. stiN
limited by the presence OF occupying
armies in the Rhineland. seems des-
tined to head the other group.
While Hungary. Bulgaria and Lithu'
ania look to Berlin, Poland. Czecho
slovakia. Rumania and Jugoslavi:
equally obviously must associate them
selves with Paris.
Benes Rated Highly.
Because Czechoslovakia Is the key
stone of all this arch of alliances. this
small republic has played and will con-
tinue to plav role in Europe which
would not otherwise fall to its lot. This
role has been the greater because
Benes Is beyond doubt the greatest
statesman in the foreign field which
the postwar period has produced and
in Europe as whole has no other
rival to pre-eminence other than Gustav
Stresemann.
AS 1t marks a forward step in Ei.
ropean economic consolidation and
political appeasement, the visit Of
Benes, therefore. deserves the impor-
tance tn European comment was
ascribed to 1t. But to interpret It as
an evidence of a revolution In the
orientation Of sCzech policy. which
would involve a sweeping tranSforma-
ton In the whole political situation In
central Europe seems unfounded.
DOWNRIGHT. Mcclure Newspaper syndicate