The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-07-17
HITLER BOUND
IN IRON RING
OF ALIEN PACTS
Peace of Europe Thought
to Hang on Decision
of Chancellor.
BY WILLIAM PHILIP sININIS
Seripps-HoWard Foreign Editor

Seripps-HoWard Foreign Editor
WASHINGTON, July lit
wouEd be no exaggerstion 70 say
that the future Of Germany and the
peace Of Europe well may depend
upon major decisions nov definitely
up TO Chancellor Adolf Hitler.
Every capital in Europe today
was anxi0usly, and none too hope
fully. awaiting some word from Ber-
lin indicating whether Germany
would fall n line with the new con-
tinental peace lineup, or defy the
iron ring" which has formed about
her.
Dispatches indicate that Rome,
following London, favors the
Frsnco-Russian proposals for an
eastern Locarno" which, with the
existing pscts, would safeguard Eu-
ropes principal frontiers
Everything now depends, there
fore, upon the attitude Of Germany.
If she comes IN the outlook for En-
ropean peace will seem more hope
ful than 1t has at any time since
1913.
One Power Against Many
Should Germany refuse, auto
matically she will become one coun-
try Of 100000 surrounded by a
round dozen nations with an ag-
gregate population of 25O,O0O,O 900. all
determined to check her should she
resort TO the sword to cut her way
out.
Seven treaties we're negotiated at
Lccarno in 1925. The chief one
was the treaty of mutual guarantee
between Germany, France, Great
Britain. Italy and Belgium. The
others were treaties mainly Of ar
bitration.
According to the protocol, the
pacts were designed to preserve the
respective nations from the scourge
of war and provide for the peace
full settlement Of disputes of every
nature which might eventually
arise between them"
How Pacts Operate
They provide for maintenance Of
the territorial status quo between
France and Germany and between
Belgium and Germany and OBJ
servance Of the articles of the
treaty Of Versailles, setting up per-
manent demiitarized zones along
both side of the Rhine.
Both Britain and italy stand as
guarantors. Should France or Bel
GUM attack Germany. they are
pledged 10 go TO Germany's assist
ance. They are to do the same for
Belgium and France should Ger
many be the aggressor.
What France and Russia now
propose is to negotiate similar pacts
covering Germany's eastern from
tiers. Though they would not APP
pear this time as guarantors. Italy
and Great Britain have signified
their approval of the scheme. Po-
land, the small Baltic states and the
Little Entente. however. would be
parties, as well as the Soviet Union
and France.
Such is the "Locsrno of the
East" If it succeeds. Europe would
be covered by a vast network of
pacts of mutual assistance against
aggression.
Hitler Is "On the Spot"
The new setup puts Adolf Hitler
between the devil and the deep sea.
His dream Of creating a Third Reich
embracing all persons of German
blood in Central Europe seems
doomed unless he is willing and
ready to fight. He rode to power
largely on fiery promises to free
Germany from her present con-
fines.
To sign an Eastern Locarno," for
him would mean backing down on
some of the main planks of plat
form forNwhich he has been SPELL
binding for more than a decade. His
already weakened prestige might
not stand the added strain.
Refusal to Join with the others
means the final enlightenment Of
Germany, further deepening her
already desperate financial and
economic plight.
In his speech. Of Friday the
thirteenth. Hitler limited that Nazi-
dom is prepared to defy the rest
Of the world. He indicated she could
stand the siege. Her scientists and
engineers would find a way. perhaps
by producing "erSatz" food and ma
terials to make the country self
containing.
This observers gravely doubt.
Similar conditions in 1918 brought
revolution. The chances are that
history would re~eat.