Evening star., 1933-05-21
Britain Halls ROOsevelt's
Disarmament Appeal
BY A. G. GARDINER.

LoINboN, May ZU- Alo -Aluc bCSL
the most critical week in Europe since
the World War, and If the Disarmament
Conference has escaped disruption, that
fact is mainly due to the admirably
timed Intervention by President Roose-
velt.
Other factors contributed to stem the
| imminent stampede into chaos, notably
the plain speaking addressed to DR.. Al
fred Rosenberg. Chancellor Hitlers
emissary, during his visit to London,
both by the British foreign Office and
by Ambassador Norman Davis of the
United States. Also. the practical ex-
pulsion of DR.. Hans Frank, German Nazi
leader, by the Austrian government
served to remind Germany of the perils
invited by her provocative policy and by
such menacing language as that used
by Vice Chancellor Won Papen in his
speech at Munster
Up to Wednesday the gravest appre-
tensions prevailed in government circles
here, and a member of the cabinet ex-
pressed to me the view that the Dis
armament Conference seemed doomed
And If 1t fails" he added, "the World
Economic Conference fails with it."
In the circumstances. President
Roosevelt's message in its mingled firm
ness and moderation exactly met the
needs of the situation and sensibly re-
lieved the tension here. Whether or
not Chancellor Hitler rewrote his
Reichstag speech under the influence
of President Roosevelt's appeal to the
world, it Is undoubted that it brought
him face to face with the external re-
alities which the German policy was
challenging and checked the tendency
to pursue the game of bluff. Moreover,
Hitler's wisdom in consulting DR.. Helm
rich Bruening before making the speech
is significant of the changed mentality
Of the chancellor.
Both in France and England the
temper as well as the content Of the
Hitler speech was received with feel
ing of relief. For the first time. as the
London Times remarked, behind the
demagogue and the Snowman the world
has caught glimpse of the statesman.
The immediate peril was at least allayed
and the Disarmament Conference met
in q new and more hopeful atmosphere.
Hitler's implied rebuke Of Won Papens
saber- -rattling speech was welcomed,
but against his pacific words and COM
mon sense denunciation OF war, as the
Manchester Guardian observes, are 4
hundred other acts and utterances
which breed fear in those who are asked
to contemplate actual German equality
of arms and the use that may be made
of it in flve years time.
* **
It is agreed that Hitler's new terms
90 far toward accommodation. The I'M
mediate cause of the disarmament
deadlock Is removed by Germanys
willingness to abandon the long
Reichswehr and withdrawal OF ner
demand for immediate practical equal
ity. The main difference OF Hitler with
President Roosevelt is in regard to the
term of the transitional period. Roose-
velt contemplates the first definite step
occupying five years, in the BRUSH
draft convention, and then an agreed
time and procedure for following
steps," Germany seeks the attainment
of full equality in five years.
With Hitler's predecessors in power,
such terms would have offered a favor
able basis for settlement, but the
deep-seated suspicion of the NaA die
tatorship and the effect of recent events
on French fears must be reckoned with.
The demand for security has been
revived in France with redoubled force.
and increased stress Is laid on the
necessity Of a searching scheme for
international supervision Of armaments.
Much depends on the attitude that
the United States is prepared to adopt
towards an aggressor who breaks the
disarmament convention. The decision
of Washington In this great matter will
have an important bearing on the issue.
Liberal opinion here also urges Great
Britain to make contribution to
agreement by further concession on
the subject Of tanks and by energeti-
cally strengthening the hands of the
League of Nations In restraint of the
wrongdoer.
How far Hitler can control the for
midable spirit Of belligerency he has
aroused remains to be seen, but a week
which opened with the sloomiest fore
bodings is ending with Q distinctly
clearer sky.
(oopyright. 1881