Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-21
German Elections Causing
Anxiety in Great Britain
BY A. G. GARDINER,
highlands Great Liberal Editor.

LONDON, September 20.-The star
ting electoral success of Fascism In
Germany and the impression of a COM
plete deadlock between Great Britain
and France at Geneva have deepened
the depression in political circles here
and cannot fail to have important re-
percussions upon the imperial confer
ence which opens in London a week
hence.
All correspondents Of the British
press in Berlin attribute Adolph Hit
ler's triumph to two main cause.-the
calamitous economic condition Of the
country, which has embittered popular
feeling against the Young plan, and the
complete failure of the League of Ma
tions as an implement for disarma-
ment under the Versailles treaty.
The backbone of the Hitler movement
always has been the disbanded militia
rists Of imperial Germany. The sudden
emergence of the movement into for
midable political force which threatens
the republic is the cumulative conse-
quence of the French policy of en-
circling disarmed Germany with mill
tary forces more powerfully armed than
any in previous European experience.
~ FL
1t is impossible for this situation to
continue indefinitely, and its existence,
coupled with the failure Of the League
to grapple with the question of the full
fillment of this aspect of the treaty, Is
profoundly reacting upon German feel
ing and, as events this week show, Is
threatening the life of the republic,
hammer of Fascism and the anvil of
Sovietism.
This danger is acutely felt In gov
eminent circles and lends significance
to Foreign Secretary Henderson's pow
erful insistence at Geneva that the re-
duction and limitation of ornaments
must take precedence over all else in
the affairs of the League. He has made
1t clear that If Britain shares in a
scheme Of a more economically united
Europe it must be q Europe in which
the promise of treaties to reduce arma-
ments has been carried out.
III
Germany was disarmed as q prelim-
mary to general disarmament, and
nothing at Geneva has made a deeper
impression on the Assembly than Hen
dersons declaration thai the disarma-
ment provisions are mo less sacred than
any other obligation which those
treaties contain"
The German elections have lent ex-
traordinary emphasis to this insistence
on honest dealing.
1t is not only on the subject or dis
armament in regard to which France
is expected TO pursue her obstructive
measures of the past, that the breach
between the two countries has been en-
phasized. The British delegation has
been the most formidable opponent Of
Aristide Brands scheme of European
economic union, in which the Assembly
has generally described a spirit Of hos
tility to the League and to League off,
cials-a view strengthened by Brands
attempt to prevent discussion of the
plan by the regular organs Of the
League.
X
The British position has been over
whelmingly Endorsed by the Assembly
and the idea of a separate body TO deal
with economic relationships, as proposed
by France. is definitely dead. If any
thing comes of the proposal of Euro
pean union, it will be inside the frame
work of the League and operated by
League officials and methods.
But will anything come of It.? The
prospects as disclosed at the Assembly