Evening star., 1933-09-27
WAR IN 10 YEARS
: SEEN BY OBSERVER
Prof. Hinrichs of Brown U.
Traces Reich Bitterness
to "War Guilt" Clause.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
PROVIDENCE, R. l.. September q
(N.A.N.A).-War within a decade-that
Is unless important changes occur in
the world situation, is the European
= outlook, in the opinion of Prof. A. Ford
Hinrichs of Brown University's Depart
ment of Economics. who has just re-
turned from a sabbatical year in Ger
many, Austria, Russia, Italy, Spain and
Switzerland.
Germany. of course, is the most OBJ
viouS powder magazine, but there are
others scattered over the continent, and
the matches are f1aring dangerously, he
believes.
Prof. Hinrich's chief purpose was to
study methods of economic control and
reorganization in the countries he
visited. but he also observed related po-
litical aspects of the situation and had
opportunity to study the people and
their temper particularly in Germany,
where he spent three months, and in
Russia, where he spent five. He was
impressed inevitably by the dangers in
herent in the Central European situa-
ton; and he felt increasingly that
world affairs cannot be improved if the
United States pursues an isolationist
policy.
Explanation of Bitterness.
1t is imperative. Prof Hinrichs be-
ternational relations which have
"created a Nazi movement that COM
mandS immense popular support in
Germany" IN the German tempera-
ment and in reaction to the war
guilt" clause of the Versailles Treaty
Prof Hinrichs finds an explanation of
great part of the bitterness of the Ger
man people toward other nations.
The Germans cannot put up with
criticism in the same way that, say,
the Americans and the British can,"
Prof. Hinrichs observed. 'An American
or a Briton might not like the war
guilt clause applied to himself. but he
wouldn't be tremendously disturbed
about it, as the Germans are. The
German is an idealist. When his ideal
istic conceptions are attacked, he is
adrift. he has nothing to cling to. He
is extremely sensitive to the judgments
Of other people.
THE intent of the Versailles treaty
was to make Germany as impotent as
possible. The world at large began to
realize after a time, that this policy
would wreck the world and modif1ca-
tions were made, as in the reparations.
But almost all of these notifications
came too late. The damage had been
done and couldn't be rectified"
Why did the country turn to Hitler?
Germany used up all of her old
leaders; there was only Hitler left"
Business Somewhat Afraid.
Hitler commands large measure of
public support, from all classes. Prof
Hlnrichs believes Business remains
somewhat afraid of him, but is in hope
that he will continue his conservative
policies
Last July and August" Prof. Hin
richs said, there was sort of balance;
nobody knew where the Hitler govern
ment was going. I think that in his
foreign policy Hitler expresses the de-
sire OF the mass of the German people
He demands equality of armaments-
either through rearming Germany or
dlsarmlng other nations-and readjust-
ment of the Eastern frontier The Ger
mans not only are fearful of other ma
tons. but they cannot endure that
feeling OF inferiority which inadequate
armaments and the insistence upon
the war guilt clause forced upon them.
Trying Conservative Policy.
Economically Germany is tentatively
trying out a conservative policy. If
conditions do not improve Substan-
TALLY Germany may swing to extreme
radicalism without displacing Nazi
leadership, but the movement is social
and political rather than economic.
In my opinion, it is highly essential
that the World Disarmament Confer
ence, which is reconvening, produce
definite results. If it deadlocks. or
merely putters along, am certain that
Germany will try to rearm,- legally as
far as possible. Although I made no
special study of the subject, 1t is evi-
cent that Germany has already vio-
lated the spirit, if not the letter, of
the treaty.
Failure of the Disarmament Con-
ference will mean simply another race
another piling up Of armaments. It