Evening star., 1934-06-17
FRANCO-SOVIET ENTENTE
BAD OMEN FOR HITLERISM
Germany Worse Off Than 20 Years
Ago, When She Had at Least Austria
for Ally and Fewer Obstacles.
BY FRANK H. SIMONDS.

BY FRANK H. SIMONDS.
TEW episodes in postwar history
- have been at once so striking
and so significant as the recent
L Franco-Russian determination
at Geneva. And for those who
remember the events of the days just
preceding the outbreak of the World
War, the solidarity disclosed by Bar
thod and Litvinov must be reminis-
cent of the old partnership between
Poincare and Isvolsky, which occa-
stoned so much discussion later dur
ing the great war guilt controversy.
The Russia of the Soviets, like that
OF the Cars has struck hands with
French democracy-that is the long
and the short of the matter. And
this act will have great and lasting
importance. On the one hand the
Soviet Union has resumed the seat of
imperial Russia in the council of the
great powers and, on the other, by
this action has completed not only the
isolation but the encirclement Of Ger
many. What the Germany of William
II protested against in Edward VII,
the Third Reich of Hitler is now COM
planning of in Joseph Stain.
Nor does Berlin miss the grim sig
nihcance of the Russian action. For
Germany perceives clearly that she is
back in the old situation Of 1914; Is, in
fact, in worse situation than 20
g-k, =,
ally at least; now she has no ally
whatever. Politically, economically,
morally she has become a pariah
among the nations and to make mat
ters worse, this political disaster
comes at a moment when economic
discomfort is becoming daily more
acute.
Treaty of Rapallo Cited.
In considering the Russian action
it is necessary to turn back a dozen
years to the Conference Of Genoa
and to the treaty of Rapallo, nego-
tiated by Chicherin and Rathenau.
That was the high point in Russo
German friendship and the climax of
the so-called eastern orientation pol
icy of postwar Germany, of which
DR.. Nathan, later Ambassador in
Washington. was the ableSt exponent
In conformity with that treaty, Mos
COW and Berlin, then equally beyond
the pale, were to act together. Ger
man soldiers would find an opportun-
ity to train in Red armies; German
industry would supply Russian civil
needs and equip Russian armies.
1t will be recalled that at that mo-
ment memories of the RusSo-Polish
War were still fresh, the treaty of
Riga still craven on the Soviet mind
Trotsky was military commissar ano
defeat of the various White armie:
was only a thing of yesterday. Ir
that day Red Russia was still plotting
the world revolution and republican
Germany was intransigeant in tht
matter of the treaty Of Versailles
alike in its military and reparatior
details.
Then came the occupation Of thu
Ruhr. German resistance was brok.
en-inflation brought its wide and ut.
ter ruin. Germany was forced to sur.
render and Stresemann came, satisfied
at last that Germany must make
peace with her western foes-witf
France. primarily. AS result Europe
entered upon the Locarno period anC
Germany joined the league. Th'
foreign policy of Stresemann accepted
western. not an eastern, orientatior
and for four years, from 1925 unit
he died, Stresemann co-operated will
BRAND and Austen Chamberlain a
Geneva and through the League.
Stain Mounted to Power.
In these years relations between
Moscow and Berlin probably becam'
less intimate, but there was no com
plete break. Meantime in RuSsii
Stain mounted to power and tn
world revolution was postponed unit
the five-year plan and other similal
plans could bring to success the ex
pertinent Of MarxiSm within Russia
Then Stresemann died, Chamberlain
went out of Office with his party
Brands influence waned at home
Meantime in Germany the shadow o
Hitler became increasingly menacing
The very essence of Hitler's pro
gram was to save Germany from {
communistic danger. As he Smott
the domestic Communists he mad,
mortal foes of their Soviet brethren
Then the episodes which accompanied
the Fuchrer's arrival to power finished
the Russian friendship. As if tina
were not enough, the new masters o
Germany publicly proclaimed theil
right and intention to seize Sovie
lands in the Ukraine for German
colonization.
AS the break between Berlin anC
Moscow grew, the causes for antipathy
to the Soviet in France and Britain
simultaneously died down. For al
practical purposes the Russians haC
renounced the world revolution. Fol
them now friendly relations with tht
capitalistic countries was essential Il
the success of their domestic revolu
ton. TrotSky was in exile, and thu
Third Internationale largely a mem.
ory. Then, a few months ago, Ger.
many successfully exploited Polish
dissatisfaction with her French ALL
t arrive at detente with WARSAW
and a 10-year non-aggression pac
for the time being reduced the Cor.
ridor to invisibility.
Fears Uncorroborated.
But did Pilsudski and Hitler be.
meath the surface plot some new ag.
gression like that of 1920, which
took Polish armies briefly to Kiev
and even more briefly back under the
walls of Warsaw? Even Moscow
which asked the question, admitted
it could find no evidence Of this. Il
was fearful, but its fears were un-
corroborated. So far as one coulc
see the Polish German pact was fol
Hitler no more: than a means oi
clearing his hands of all else, while
he operated on the Austrian front
The price having been paid. how.
ever, the Austrian campaign failed.
Beyond all else the Russian agree.
ment with France probably marks
the re-emergence of Russia. 1t wa.
important in view of the danger ir
the east. 1t definitely brought Russia
into line with Western Europe a,
American recognition restored rela.
tions with the United States. But
aside from local ohiectiveS the Soviet