Evening star., 1934-01-07

control and supervision. the scheme
would be definite achievement.
Moreover, the offer of a pact Of non
aggression, which Herr Hitler has made
Is favorable fact. Nor should the
request that the Saar should be re-
turned to Germany without waiting
for the plebiscite provided for in the
Versailles treaty be stumbling block
The plebiscite Is due in q year or so.
There IS no reasonable doubt as to how
it will 60. and if agreement can be
concession might be made as gesture
Of good will.
The real menace to the Arms Con-
ference is not in the conflict Of terms,
but in the mutual diStrust that poisons
the Franco-German situation. France
believes-and there Is abundant evi-
dence to justify the belief-thAt Ger
cess of what she will admit and far
beyond anything provided for in the
Versailles treaty. France is alarmed
by the military manifestations of the
new regime, which do not accord with
the pacific utteranceS of Herr Hitler.
The extraordinary evidences Of mill
tarizing OF education in Germany, the
propagation Of the war spirit and such
incidents as the Christmas declaration
of the Reich primate, DR.. Muller, that
Peace on earth" does not mean mo
more wal" are strengthening the hands
of Andre Tardieu and the Right parties
and are making it increasingly diff
cult for the French government to re-
sist the demands of its own military
chiefs.
1t Is not necessary to assume that
Herr Hitler is insincere in his proposals,
but he has awakened a popular passion
which, once aroused, is not easy to con-
troll, and it is idle to ignore the fact
that the personality and activities of
Herr Goering give occasion for the
gravest doubts as to the pacific inten-
ton Of Germany.
But there are other symptoms throw
ing a more favorable light on Germany,
which France should not disregard.
Both the verdict in the Reichstag fire
trial and the remarkable stand of the
pastors Of the German church against
the attempt to make the church a mere
instrument Of NaZi propaganda have
shown Europe that there are still ele-
ments in Germany that have not been
submerged and overthrown by the wave
of reaction. 1t is reasonable to suppose
that those elements will have an in
creasing influence upon the policy OF
the country as the wave subsidies.
Much of the fear as to the fate OF
the conference is due to the vague at
titude OF this country. Half the trouble
between France and Germany" says
the London Spectator, which is GER
tainly not unfriendly to the govern
ment, sis that France is wholly in
ignorance as to where the British gov
eminent stands. In q world lacking
leadership beyond all things, the prime
minister and his colleagues seem resolv-
ed on one point at all events. that, Who
ever gives a lead, it shall not be this
country" This is a harsh judgment.
but it cannot be said to be undeserved
The plain fact that the conference
has to face is that Germany is de-
termined to secure equality, not at some
remote time, but now, and that II there
is not an agreed disarmament, there
will be q mad competition in arma-
ments. eliminating in war. The ques-
ton is whether Germany Is to arm In
defiance of the powers or with the con-
sent of the powers and on conditions
that will rule out competition. The one
path leads to war, the other TO peace
And the critics of the government here
insist that it should leave France in nc
doubt as to whicn course Britain stands
for.
Meanwhile, talk In political circles
here points to the probability OF an
other adjournment as the only means
of keeping the Geneva craft ofhcially
ahoat.
(Copyright, 1934.)