Evening star., 1934-03-19

This is the last OF a series OF dis
patches by Sir Philip Gibbs on the
likelihood of another European todr.
BY SIR PHILIP GIBBS, X. B. E.
PARIS, March 10 CBy Radio)- -
During recent weeks have visited five
capitals of Europe and talked with
many people of many classes. In all
their minds I find anxiety and the
belief that enormous forces are at
work below the surface Of life, moving
toward a new and unknown era.
In Paris. where I began my journey
and now end it, there is a sense OF
crisis and expectation of grave events.
The streets are placarded with posters
calling in different voices for a new
form of government. There is general
disgust with parliamentarism, although
the alternative is not apparent. To be
a deputy is to be disgraced and the
crowd would spit in his face If they
knew him.
In most moderate minds outside the
political arena there is a conviction
that the present system cannot last
without reform and that France Is
enfeebled by the degradation OF its
leadership in recent years. In Paris
young men are arming themselves,
am told, and meanwhile the minds OF
many Frenchmen are haunted by an
other fear, whose name is Germany.
Germany is rearming. In two years
it will be rearmed, with or without
agreement of the powers. What then?
In Berlin youth is still marching, beat
ing drums, drilling, singing soldiers
songs. Hitler is still the national hero
of youth and all supplemented folk.
Others, not SO simple minded, ask:
What is he going to do? What do all
these vague, passionate speeches really
mean? What about industry and world
trade? What about that man Goering,
who talks like a fool, and Rosenberg,
who talks like madman?
Youths Rule Germany.
German Catholics are uneasy be-
cause of threats against their priests
and associations. German Protestants
are protesting against a pagan cult.
Yet the masses still believe that Hitler
is a great leader who has achieved
German unity and led the way out OF
despair and humiliation.
In any case, Germany Is in the
hands of youth. 1t is their day out
at last. They will shape something
new. They are getting impatient to
set about it. Strangely, their leader,
Hitler. holds back Socialization OF
industry and capital and property?
-. t4 or art1
Young Germany is still hopeful, en-
thusiastic and intolerant, with a tre-
mendous faith in self-discipline, and
with the high spirit, self-sacriflce and
dynamic energy Of the Germanic race.
To them the future calls, though old
people shake their heads in quiet
corners. They do not want war. these
young men. They laugh at the idea
that their marching battalions and
their NaZi flags mean threat OF
war to France or to any other nation.
1T is we who are threatened" they
say. What about the security of
Germany? In any case this marching
and drilling is our way of comrade-
ship and self discipline. There is no
need to talk to us of the horrors of
war. Are we not the sons of our
fathers? What is all that nonsense
in France? Why don't they make
friends with us when We offer our
friendship? Hitler offers it. Hitler
is utterly sincere. Why does not
France believer"
So l heard in Berlin.
In Vienna one does not talk aloud
about the situation. People look over
their shoulders when they talk, espe-
cially if it is in the neighborhood of
those bombarded houses that are still
SCARED with bullets and shell holes.
There is a great agony in the hearts
of many working people In Vienna
whose men are still in prison and
whose breadwinners have lost their
jobs. Thousands of them In those
houses were not revolutionaries or
reds. 1t was their leaders who talked
political stuff and the young, unem-
ployed men were just lads who did
the shouting.
Dollfuss' Security Doubted.
Chancellor Dollfuss has promised
clemency. He calls for the loyalty of
workingmen to the new regime in the
cooperative state. Some of them be-
lieve him. There is no alternative ex-
cept joining the NaziS, whom they
hated. The Nazis are lying low. Per-
haps they have been converted by
Dollfuss, whose heimwehr has ma
chine guns.
Prince Starhemberg and Maj Fey,
who led the attack on the Social
Democrats, proclaim their loyalty to
Dollfuss and their faith in Austrian
independence supported by Italy, with
financial assistance. But in quiet
rooms in Vienna 1 heard doubts about
the security of DollfuSs. There is a
stronger pull to Germany than to
Italy. 1t is difficult to say how long
Italian support will last, or how long
the present situation will last.
Austria is not happy. Vienna is not
gay city. I was glad to leave it. 1t
is still in the shadow of civil conflict
and under the discipline of heimwehr
men, who are not always gentle in
their methods.
Hungary is uneasy. This Italian
business may be all right for while.
But what about revision of treaties?
Two million HungarianS are still
across the frontiers In other nations
territory. Italy is not strong enough
to tackle that problem. Germany
might be strong enough one day. Bet
ter not quarrel with Germany.