Evening star., 1932-11-20

colonies, it will be England's turn to
be angry. For Germany's best colo
nies and, notably. the former German
East Africa, are now held as mandates
by Britain or her dominions
England received the giants share Of
the former German colonial empire,
France received back Alsace-Lorraine
Italy was weak the United States re-
fused to accept any territory at all,
whether camoufiaged as a mandate or
otherwise, and Britain and her do
minions were able to obtain the best Of
the pickings. There will be tremendous
resentment, especially in South Africa,
against any nation Of returning either
the former German Southwest or the
former German East Africa (now
present state of imperial sentiment
Britain dare not ignore this. If this
new German demand is made British
sentiment will be alienated. Without
the certainty of Britain's support for
an assailed Germany there will be the
gravest danger of what the old Ger
man professors Of strategy themselves
used to describs and advocate as the
preventive war.
The process of rearming Germany
will take some years. The German
budget will not permit of a very heavy
expenditure on war aeroplanes, heavy
artillery, tanks, submarines and the
like True, Germany has a cheap re-
serve in her various unofficial armies,
the Steel Helmates, the Nazis, etc. But
weapons and equipment are lacking.
Second Great War.
The Poles, who cannot be congratu-
1ofod Hra haUfy16 ShnuyJ1 Yf1IINh nNlitiFal
precedence, may be tempted to seize
Danzg and further territories In Prus-
sia while Germany Is still weak. The
Poles may think that they may do this
with greater immunity because Russia
Is In the throes Of her economic re-
planning. Worse still, French mill
tarists may conclude that 1t is to their
country's interest to smash Germany
again while victory still appears easy.
There are still hundreds of thousands
of Frenchmen who believe their gov
ernment made mistake in not insist
ing on marching on Berlin at the time
Of the armistice: and there are mil
lions of Frenchmen who feel that an
even greater mistake was made in not
insisting on the whole of the western
bank Of the Rhine being under French
rule. Frances attempt to foster a
StdbC 4lA I44C AICAA4oA bNAAAbOAy
beyond the river will be remembered.
If these counsels prevail. the second
great European war, with results i'm
possible to foretell, will have begun.
What, then, should be done? There
are two nations which have an un-
doubted interest in peace. They are
the United States and Britain. Both
depend largely on their commerce for
their prosperity. Peaceful, settled
conditions are necessary for the revival
of trade. Both are large creditor ma
tions, being owed large governmental
as well as vast private commercial
debts. Both are interested particu-
larly in the peace of Asia and the rec
ognition of international obligations by
Japan. Britain and the United States
of America must act together at this
juncture, and act resolutely, or 1t Will
be too late. The most pressing prob
lem-that Of the German demand for
rearmament, or rather for equality Of
ornaments, which is what the German
people will support whatever their
present rulers desire-can be met by
the adoption of the Hoover proposals;
to be followed in due course, by the re-
nunciation of those weapons already
forbidden to Germany under the
treaty Of Versailles.
Should Work Together.
Above all, we must press on with
the World Economic Conference and
endeavor to make it partial success.
at least. This will give some hope to
the despairing masses in Germany and
elsewhere, who are beginning to accept
the possibility of war as the only way
Of escape.
This. conference should be removed
from the European atmosphere. Short
sighted persons of influence are press
ing for London as a meeting place.
The World Economic Conference
should take place in Washington, in
an American atmosphere. The Euro
pean atmosphere Is now thoroughly
warlike and intensely nationalistic.
The air of Geneva, of the other Swiss
health resorts, of Paris and London is
poisonous with rancor and suspicion.
In the United States are great peo-
pie descended from all the contending
races There will be a greater chance
of broad statesmanlike views being
taken on the American side of the At
lantic, away from raucouS press, par
TALLY subsidized by the armament in
terests, and away from mob emotions.
But, I must repeat. Britain and
America should work together now, or
prepare for the appalling catastrophe
of another war to the ultimate results
of which no boundaries can be set.