Evening star., 1932-06-12

n gatEer, buC frequently, Oe-
spite thunder and lightning,
the storm blows over. The dangerous
storm is the one which comes out of
the clear sky when you are on an out
ing wearing your best Sunday clothes. F"
Thus a well known diplomat in Wash
ington described the present uncertain
political situation in Europe. Y:t the
situation looks mere hopeful than it
would appear.
There are number of international
conferences either in progress or
planned for the next few months. Their
success depends entirely on whether
France and Germany can get together
and dispel the present fear and distrust
which exists between the two countries
and which causes the present disturbed
situation.
1t seems paradoxical to say, yet :;
Is q fact, that now. when an ultra
conservative government has come to
power in Germany the chances of a
Franco-German understanding appear
to be better than at any lime since
the end of the war.
French Fears Justified.
In the last u years ths chief rea-
son of the French distrrst of Ger
many was the fact that while Ger
Uldlly SldUSSllltIl SuIlI dS Tic ldtC WI Z.
Stresemann and Dr. Bruening were
avowed Liberals and we're working sin
cerely for a Franco-Germah rapproche-
ment the French did moi believe that
they were actually backed by the Ger
man nation This it has been proved
recently was correct. The Germans have
more trust in men like Hitler and the
old Conservatives than in Bruening and
his Liberals.
The chief obstacle to Franco-Ger-
man understanding consequently has
been the fact that French leaders lacked
confidence in the German governments
ability to carry out the promises neces-
sary to Franco-German under
standing.
Now the Reich has a government
which is generally considered truly rep
resentative of the German people.
Whether tie Won Papen cabinet re-
mains in cfice or whether Hitler or
Schacht cabinet will succeed him after
the July elections is immaterial. The
policies will remain tie same.
In internal affairs The German Con-
servatives want first to restore normal
working and trading conditions. What
is Gripping GermanI today? First OF
all the various trade barriers such as
high tariff rates ana quotas; secondly,
interest on foreign debts.
Backed by the entire German heavy
industry, the Conservatives intend to
propose to the French to Cooperate
with them for the reconstruction OF
Europe. The opinion of disinterested
observers confirms the theory that it is
within the realms Of possibility for a
Conservative nationalistic German cabi-
net to come to terms with SocialiStic
French government.
Franco German Problems.
What are the problems which keep
Germany and France at loggerheads?
The question Of reparationS.
The question Of military restrictions
imposed on Germany by the treaty Of
Versailles.
The question of the Polish Corridor.
All other things are incidental to
these three major problems, and will
solve themselves when the other mat
ters are settled.
In regard to the question of repara-
tions. it appears that Edouard Herriot
is fully aware of the fact that Ger
many is in no position to pay anything
at the present moment. and that she
must be given an opportunity to i'm
prove her trade balance if France
wants to receive any more payments.
What has been annoying the French in
the last few months was the emphatic
statement of the Germans that I'VE
won't pay" The manner in which this
statement has been made seemed
direct challenge to France, and was
interpreted as an indication that the
Germans want to take advantage of
their precarious financial situation in
order to break the Versailles treaty.
The first sign Of the German frame
OF mind regarding the Lausanne Con-
ference is the announcement that the
intransigent but able DR.. Hjalmar
Schacht will not be member Of the
German delegation there. This is in
terpreted as indication Of the Germans
object of reaching a temporary agree
ment with the French. A final agree
ment, it is said, cannot be reached
until after the American presidential
elections, since the French and the
British have clearly stated that their
respective war debts must be reduced
In the same proportion as they them
selves reduce the German Indebtedness.
Many French military and naval ex-
perts agree that the military restrictions
imposed upon Germany in 1919 are in
fact no restrictions at all. That with
the amazing advance in use of electric
ity and chemistry in future wars, the
Germans may be as well, If not better,
equipped than any other nation. Many
Of the foreign military authorities queS-
ton the efficiency of the heavy tanks
and the large-sized guns, of which
Germany possesses none. An illus
tratioh as to what these restrictions
have done to Germany is cited in re-
gard to the German navy. Germany is
forbidden by the treaty Of Versailles to
have ships over 10000 tons. The Ger
fnnhniriovc aJioto1v IN
work and invented an entirely new type
OF battle cruiser, the famous German
pocket battleship" the Preussen. which
Is said to be better and more efficient than
any unit the French or Italian navies
have. 1t costs less to build and less to
keep up. Who knows, say the military
experts what new devices the Germans
may have developed in the last 10
years for new land armies.
Way to Change Treaty.
A way to change the Versailles treaty
without appearing to change it seems
to have been devised at the Arms Con-
ference at Geneva. 1t has been sug-
gested that all restrictions contained in
the Versailles treaty regarding arma-
ments should be taken out and incor-
porated in the new disarmament agree
ment. II this is done. the conference
can decide upon certain matters which
are irksome to Germany at present and
change them in the new arms agree
ment.
If these agreements can be reached,
the question Of the revision of the Ver-
sailles treaty regarding the Polish Cor
ridor will become less pressing. The
German cabinet, able to show the peo-
S.e some immediate, tangible results in
international politics. will be able to
postpone the Polish Corridor issue until
this whole matter can be disposed of
by negotiation and compromise.
CERMAK MAKES PLEA