Evening star., 1934-11-11
Continued From First Page

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Brazil, where they had learned that
a sturdy fellow of Croatian origin had
chosen to settle down.
We readily believe that in the soul
Of the Marseille assassin the germ
which was to culminate in the deed
of killing had been sown, years ago,
possibly by the ruthlessness of the
Belgrade government; we should make
allowance for every kind of excuse
But that germ would not have grown
and burst out into a continental
tragedy but for the studious care that
was spent upon it. After all, the mis-
creant was promised a terrorist Ca
reer. That means employment, and
employment that, three or four times
out of five, did not imply that he
would be put to the supreme test
hence the attractive side Of the job
for dastardly creatures whose daily
life is struggle against all conceiv-
able odds.
But for the demand for terrorists
developed on the Hitlerian and Fascist
markets. Macedonian or Croatian
rif1emen would not have turned into
wandering, ferociouS, self-controlled
wild beasts. But for the Hungarian
springboard, one of those wild beasts
would not have been safely conveyed
through several countries to Marseille
and King Alexander would not have
been buried, the other day. in Bel
grade. And the same thing applies
to the Italian springboard, which was
denounced and exposed, some months
ago, in the Zagreb court, after the
December conspiracy from which
Alexander had a narrow escape.
Time to Strike Indefinite.
OF course, it may be argued that
the government officials in Hungary
and elsewhere did not know that the
machinery of assassination setup with
their direct or indirect assistance was
to be used on such and such q day
for such and such a purpose. For in
stance, it is well known that the
camp of Croatian terrorists which was
maintained at Bardi, near Parma,
under DIR. Pavelich, a former mem
Der of the Belgrade Parliament, and
which at one time had no less than
140 inmates, was intended to supply
q band of insurgents which, until
February. 1888. was kept ready to in
wade the Croatian districts of Yugo-
slavia, proclaim there an independent
Croatian republic and call the Ital-
ian army to the rescue. 1t is well
known that for while the danger
was imminent and deeply disturbed
the European chancellories.
Political Crime Normal Pawn.
The authorities who initiated such
violent policies as these cannot be
ahsolved of responsibility for the use
to which the gang. gathered and
nurtured under their shield, was put,
even If it were without their knowl-
edge. Certainly the disappearance
of King Alexander. the "unifier" OF
Yugoslavia. has been welcomed by
them as Of good augury for their
policy-the breaking up of the
Kargeorgevich kingdom. Let US.
therefore, conclude that in Europe
political crime, even of the most
elaborate kind, now ranks as a nor
NAL pawn on the international chess
board
Besides, it cannot be a mere coinci-
dence that the foremost statesmen
who have recently been murdered all
belong to the same side. Duca, prime
minister of Rumania; Dollfuss, the
Austrian chancellor; King Alexan-
der, Louis Barthou, foreign minister
of France-all were stanch defenders
of the political and territorial status
quo. How Is 1t that the great die
tators, who at one time or another
must have bred hate and despair In
the hearts Of many men, have re-
manned safe and sound? Is 1t that
there is no chance left for political
crime except within the compass Of
governmental activities?
Bomb Under Railway Coach.
To say that the French police were
terribly inadequate does not impair
the argument. The terrorists' prepa-
rations in Marseille were of such q
magnitude as to evade the watch of
even an efficient bodyguard. 1t Is
reported from a good source that
under the railway carriages which
would have carried King Alexander
and M. Barthou to Paris a deadly
bomb had been fitted; it would have
exploded once the train was set in
motion. Thus. even i the first at