Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-07-18

Memher NJ the Associated Press.
Hitler as Peacemaker.

ence did nothing at all to promote
economical and financial peace, II
would appear, paradoxical as 1t SOUNDS
that political peace in Europe rests TINS
Summer on a more solid foundation
than for years. The cause, of course,
lies wholly outside the abortive con-
ference. Americans will be surprised to
hear that the principal reason assignee
for the more pacific outlook is Hitler
lied Germany.
The aggressive international treno
of Nad policy has resulted, after Jour
months, in drawing ancient european
rivals together and relaxing old ten
sions. Germany itself tends to become
correspondingly isolated. All around
her today, east and west, are nations
confronted by what they regard as
common menace to their territory ana
security, and imbued with q consequent
determination to suppress INDIVIDUAL
differences In the face OF q danger
menacing all.
In Eastern Europe the most signin-
cant development is the series OF non
aggression treaties Russia has con-
cluded not only with all her immediate
neighbors, but with states as Tar aneio
as France, Persia, Afghanistan and Iur-
kew. The pacts negotiated with Poland
and the Little Entente governments
are of special importance. As the Nazs
single out Communist Russia as their
pet aversion, the Moscow government
must take more than ordinary salts
faction in encircling Germany with
ring of political understandings not 1ar
removed In certain contingencies from
the Implications Of alliances. In the
matter of the Polish Corridor, Tor
instance, which 20 many authorities
look upon as today's most potential
cause of European war, the Soviet
Union, through the non-asgression pact
with Poland, aligns itself with that
country against the day the Nans
venture TO wipe out the Corridor by
force and reconvert n into German
territory, which they fncessantly boast
TO be their intention.
The preamble to all the non-assfes-
sson pacts imposes upon the signatures
the obligation to respect the territorial
tnviolability Of each other. Thus the
Soviet treaty with Rumania auto
maticaIly ersdicates another war-breed-
tne issue-the question Of Bessarabia,
ON which the Russians have cast covet-
GUS ewes ever since the Versailles set
Element awarded that former czarist
region to the Rumanians.
If the Soviet has contrived to con-
solidate Eastern Europe against the
Germans, Nad maneuvers themselves
have had the effect of Welding Western
Europe into q bond against Hitherto
pretensicns. Great Britain promptly
evinced her opposition to them. In
this area the most notable result Is
the ripening rapprochement between
France and italy, long unable to sup
press their political animosities, but at
length moving to do so IN order 10
thwart German territorial expansion.
The threat of "anschluss" between Ger
many and Austria, as manifested by the
German drive to undermine Chancellor
Dollfuss, arouses the deepest anxiety IN
France and Italy and the Little En-
tente countries. With one Of the lat
ter. Yugoslavia, Italian relations Tor
several years have been seriously
strained. Now, Naz designs on Austria
have produced a conspicuous relaxation
in the lo-Yugoslavian situation and
paved the way to a mutual under
standing against the "anschluss' IN
trigues Of Hitlerism.
So the Nazi dictatorship has had
the wholly unexpected result OF in
ducing Europe to bury its numerous
and varied hatchets. 1t is just possible
that the consequences may ramify INTO
the Geneva Disarmament Conference
next Fall and permit some semolance
of success, after all, to be snatcheo
from what only little while ago
looked like perfectly hopeless prospect.
A Europe no longer afraid OF its own
shadows, or house divided against
itself by a network of fears and sus-
ptcions, can afford to look upon re-
duction of ornaments with more IA
yorable mien. Difficult as 1t Is to
imagine such thing, the world may
vet come to catalogue the Nazis as
blessing in disguise. Today, at least,
Adolf Hitler looks almost like runner
up for the Nobel Peace Prize.
diyOYro IN