Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-14
GERMAN CABINET FACES
TEST AFTER CHEQUERS
Results of Bruening Visit to England
Guarddd-Problem Involves Support
Both Abroad and Home.

French Nationalists is equally assured.
And in either case the chance for an
entente between France and Germany
goes out the window with crash.
The fact too little perceived in the
United States today, where excessive
importance is attached to the out
wardly amicable circumstances of such
meetings as the ChequerS and Geneva
conferences of recent days, is that while
the immediate smash has been avoided
the tension has increased rather than
diminished, and beneath the surface
the forces making for trouble are still
gathering.
War Shout Raised.
Nothing really contributing to i'm
provement is possible while the Franco
German situation remains as it Is. At
the moment, when the British are try
ing to improve the atmosphere of Eu-
rope, to establish at least a vague hope
of success in the disarmament confer.
ence of February, the German s:eliI-
helm are shouting their battle cries Of
forcible revision of frontiers on the
very edge of Poland, forecasting a new
conflict and promising a fresh conquest
OF the Corridor, Of Posen and of Upper
Silesia.
It is not difficult TO imagine the
echoes these activities make in Warsaw,
as one already knows what repercussions
the AnSchlusS project made in Prague.
Even II Paris were not directly alarmed
by either incident, it would be forced
TO take note Of them by its Polish and
Czech allies. But France is disturbed
enough Of herself over the prospect of
a restored Mitteleuropa, over the pros
poets OF Third Reich conforming to
the ample proportions of the ancient
Roman empire, with Berlin instead of
Vienna as its capital, and Prussia, not
Austria, as its dominating force.
War Threats Fill Europe.
Thus Bruenings domestic opponents,
the extreme Nationalist, of all groups,
are not only threatening his existence
at home but also closing the door to
airy possible success abroad. They are
filling Europe with the threats of a new
war, Just at the time the British Labor
government Is moving heaven and earth
to have successful disarmament con-
ference and the German cabinet is de-
manding an equality of armament be-
tween a peaceful Germany and France
as an act of justice.
All of which by turns leaves the
French cold and makes them hot
When, moreover, a British cabinet in
yites the leaders of Germany-of Ger
many as the French see ito a pri-
vate party at ChequerS, thus indicating
its obvious purpose to act as umpire
between the two contending countries,
and similarly suggesting that it Is at
least equally impressed with the case
Of each, French opinion becomes eXaS-
perated and indignant. It is prepared
to make concession to q British ally
but to a British umpire it Is certain to
be less obliging.
That is why British diplomacy az
contrasted with British politicians adj
vised against the Chequers affair alto
gether. Here is the real issue between
politicians and diplomats ever since
the war: The former are eager to rush
all questions to international confer
enceS, believing that even If the con-
ferences fail they will gain prestige and
popularity at home for their effort and
can put the responsibility for failure on
the backs of the representatives Of other
countries. The diplomats see that each
the international situation worse than
before.
Great Gamble.
Chequers was q great gamble. IN
questionably, considerable time must
pass before one can cast a balance as
to the gain or loss resulting. But it has
served once more to disclose the critical
situation in which Europe finds itself
today, to emphasize the vast incoher-
ence and to illustrate again the back
ground preparing for the disarmament
conference.
Chequers, too, had an unmistakable
American aspect. Europe never dis
cuSSes reparations without thinking of
debts. Macdonald and Bruening could
agree that all would be simple if Uncle
Sam would consent to cancellation Of
allied debts. Both must have consid-
cred the prospects of new representa-
tons at Washington. Europe. with
Chequers in prospect, revived all the old
legends OF American responsibility for
European chaos and Americas mate
rial stake in continental recovery.
Again, Paris, London and Berlin are
all considering WaShingtonS unmistak-
able eagerness for a disarmament con-
ference with closest attention. for the
only conceivable means of satisfying
German demand for equality in arma-
mentS with her neighbor Is at the same
time to fortify French conditions of
security. That means political pacts,
consultative or otherwise. It means the
same old debate which began in Paris
with the treaty of guarantee and the
covenant of the League and has reap
peared at every later meeting, notably
at the London Naval Conference. where
Stimson, under the impulsion of Nor
row. played with the idea until the
President, from Washington turned it
down cold. Cancellation and commit
ment-these are the European prescrip.
tions for the United States, and w
shall hear both at Geneva again.