Evening star., 1933-11-27
Sound Out Hitler.

ttllItl > utGIdI dlIOIl dltiIOt6AA ANNSA'NN
with a certain amount of skepticlsm IN
Paris, made a sufficient impression on
the French foreign Office to decide them
TO open direct conversations with the
German government "to sound Hitler
out"
According to information received in
Washington. the talk between the
French Ambassador and Hitler was cor
dia, the latter being anxious to eX-
plain to the French representative
that the last thing Germany is seeking
is trouble with any of her neighbors.
But Hitler was emphatic that in order
to bring about a better feeling between
the two countries it would be desirable
for the French to make a friendly ges-
ture toward Germany by evacuating
the Saar territory before the plebiScite
is taken.
The Saar territory IS nominally under
the control OF the League of Nations
until 1884. when a plebiscite will be
taken to enable its inhabitants to vote
whether they want to be Incorporated
with Germany or to France A French
military police is at present in the
Saar, and this is bitterly resented by
the Germans. who claim that this force
will be used to intimidate the voters.
French Reported Willing.
The French foreign Office is reported
to be willing to follow a realistic policy
and comply with the German demand
The Quai d'Orsay knows two things:
One is that in spite Of the presence
OF the French troops the population of
the Saar will vote overwhelmingly in
favor of its reattachment to Germany
The other is that any trouble during
the pleblSclte would bring the relations
between the two countries to such
strained point that conflict might
break out in spite Of the governments
desire to avoid it.
Because of these two facts the for
elgn office is willing to listen to Hitler's
suggestion. provided France can obtain
aavantages of political nature from
The British and the Italian govern
inents. which during the last few DAYS
have been in favor of direct pourparleys
urging the French and the Germans
TO hasten their conversations and reach
an agreement as soon as possible.
France confronted with serious in
ternal situation due to the political and
financial crisis which now is taking
grave proportions, is willing to listen
to this advice. If some agreement
acceptable to the French people is
feasible, it is believed that the French
government would not overlook the
chance of terminating a serious quar-
rel which could benefit nobody
Suspicion May Clear
Hitler. on the other hand, is anxious
to show his people that he has put
Germany back where it belongs, that
is to say, world power dictated to by
nobody. He will insist of course on
Germany'S right to equality in arms.
But this, once a political understanding
between France and Germany is
reached. cannot be looked upon with
the same suspicion by the French as
was the case a few months ago.
For the first time in many months
ray of sunshine seems to penetrate
through the overcast international sky.
If political agreement can be
taached between the French and the
Germans, then the resumption of the
limit2 lion of arms conference is again
possible and this time with more
chances of success.
New League" Envisioned.
tie perennial oLtimists, who become
enthusiastic over the slightest sign of
Improvement il the international situ-
alton. go even a step further They
say that if a Franco-German entente
can be brought about, the consequence
will be a new international constella-
zion to replace the present form of the
League of Nations, by an understand
ing between all the world powers. in
cluding the United States and Russia
10 avoid future wars.
In Europe. the visit of Commissar
Maxim Litv1noff to Mussolini is con-
sldered as the preliminary step to such
a move.
l. .=rtain allegedly we'll informed
European quarters it is said that Lit
v,noff and President Roosevelt dis
cussed the possibility of some new in
rsrnational set-up for the maintenance
or peace in the world, and that he
-..1nveys some spec::-.!. message from Mr.
Aoocavelt to MusSolini.
Whether there is any truth in such
reports, it is not known. The CONVEX
sations between the Russian commissar
and the President have been very con-
fidential, but it is doubted that either
of them should have envisaged any
thing more than the immediate politi-
cal and economic necessities of both
countries. ... ....