Evening star., 1933-09-10
European Peace in the
Balance Before Gene
BY A. G.. GARDINER.

LONDON. September 9.-Norn'.-l
Davis, United States Ambassador at
Large and delegate to the Dlsarma-
ment Conference, visited the British
foreign Office Immediately on his a
rival in London this week and had
two-hour conversation with Sir John
Simon, foreign secretary.
The subject of their discussion was
disarmament. with special reference to
the forthcoming conversations between
Great Britain and France In Paris.
These will precede the meeting Of the
League of Nations Council on Septem-
Der IS and the resumption OF the Dis
armament Conference at Geneva.
II Is no extravaganza to say that the
fate Of Europe depends on the issue OF
these events.
Every day the tension of the Euro
pean situation increases under the
stress of events in Germany and of the
tidal wave Of belligerency which IS
sweeping that country.
The alarms no longer rest on the
defiant Nazi propaganda. which is
daily creating disquieting incidents,
now in Belgium. now on the Rhine and
now in Switzerland, but most of all in
Austria. The protests by Britain,
France and Italy in regard to Adolf
Hitler's crusade against the Austrian
government are contemptuouSly ignored,
and every day the war on Chancellor
Dollfuss of Austria. directed from
Munich grows in intensity. Herr
Knauss. director Of the campaign,
makes no secret of a coming "putsch.s
which is rumored to be fixed for next
month, and declares. Soon the flag of
Adolf Hitler will wave over all Austria"
But deeper grounds for alarm are
the accumulating evidences that Ger
many Is rearmlng. Most sensational
figures are published of enormous in
creases of imports OF copper, steel and
other raw material Of war since Hit
ler's advent to power. with no corre-
spending increase of exports to explain
the fact. The closing of the Ruhr and
other industrial centers against the
public adds to the growing feeling of
unrest.
The motives behind these movements
are obscure. but the London News
Chronicle this week published a grave
article suggesting that the wilder spirits
now dominant in Germany contemplate
sudden aerial attack. 1t was pointed
out that rearmament of Germany for
a land offensive is impossible under five
years, but that an aerial offensive Is
possible within little more than a year.
These suspicious are seriously enter
tanned in official circles in Paris and
are not unshared in London, where the
publication by the London Times this
week of extracts from Prof Banses
"Wehrwissenschaft" has created q most
painful impression. Herr Banse is one
Of the professors of military science
appointed To the German universities by
fn cff 1atA he ,t,-,k
Of German youth. and his book is
passionate glorification of war exceed
ing in extravaganza Bernhardi's famous
World Power of Downfall" which pre-
luded the World War.
Herr Banse describes the possibilities
OF the next war as including infection
OF drinking and other water by typhus
bacilli and the introduction of a plague
by artificially infected rats. and de-
ciares this biological war lis undoubt-
ecly the weapon for q nation that has
been diSarmed and rendered defense
less" He says the League Of Nations,
with sanctimonious mien. has forbidden
this means of warfare, but argues that
when the existence Of a state and ma
ton is at stake every method is per-
missible to stave of superior enemy
and vanquish him"
~
In the face of the menacing outlook
the meeting of the League Council and
the resumption Of the Disarmament
Conference are anxiously awaited A
successful outcome Of the latter is vital,
for the opinion is held in official circles
here that failure will inevitably lead to
increases in European armaments, with
the equally inevitable consequence Of q
catastrophe.
The vital proposals before the Geneva
Conference are the British disarmament
plan. which Mr.. Davis says America
approves in principle. and the French
proposal for automatic and regular su-
pervtsion Of armaments by the League.
which Britain Is disposed to accept.
Germany's attitude on these questions,
especially the latter. will provide the
acid test Of her intentions and decide
the issue Of peace or war
(Copyright 1881 4