The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-03-30
CAPITAL FEARS
MEMEL Juror
MAY BRING WAR
Real Danger Lies in Such
Minor Incidents, View
of Washington.


WASHINGTON, March 30.-Ad-
ministration officials here showed
real concern today over the spon-
taneous outburstS of public indigna-
ton in Germany resulting from the
death sentences melted out to four
Germans in the Mcneil territory.
In many quarters the situation
was considered of more real and
immediate danger to the peace Of
Europe than was Germany's an
nounced decision to rearm in open
defiance Of the military clauses of
the Versailles Treaty.
When Hitler announced 10 days
ago Germany proposed to return to
basis of universal CONSUMPTION,
and to create Immediately a large
standing army officials here took a
calm attitude toward the whole
matter.
Watchfu! Waiting Policy
President Roosevelt and Cordell
Hull, secretary of state, adopted a
''watchful, waiting" policy, waiting
European developments before I'M
dertaking to evaluate the situation
and to taking definite position.
They did this on the belief, and
upon the advice of their highest
military and naval councillors that
there was not likely to be any i'm
mediate outbreak of war in Europe
unless some unforeseen accident" Or
incident" should suddenly and I'M
expectedly precipitate it.
The situation resulting from the
Memel espionage trial is full of the
material OF which such accidents"
or incidents" are made. 1t might
easily become another Sarajevo, such
as precipitated the World War.
Big Issue Too Complex
The reason why it usually is one
of the little incidents" which ac-
tually precipitate big troubles was
explained by one veteran diplomat
here.
The big issue, such as Hitlers
open defiance Of the Versailles
treaty and his decision to build up
the German army, usually are so
complex and have such far-reach-
ing ramiflcations that they do not
lend themselves to dramatic exploit
tation. If there is a real desire
among the leaders of the nations
involved for preservation of peace
there usually is time for them to
work out diplomatic by-pasSes
around the threatened war before
the populace becomes sufficiently
worked up to make an explosion in
evitable.
But, in the assassination of
monarch, or in the execution Of two
or three, or a dozen, men convicted
of espionage, there are issues which
every man in the street can under
stand; there are passions, preju-
dices and hatreds involved which
touch him directly.
Citizen Easily Aroused
He is easily aroused to point
where he wants to fight. This es-
pecially IS likely to be true in cases
where a large minority population
is involved. Germans living in Ger
many assert Germans in Nemel are
being sorely oppressed by the Lithu-
anian government.
On the other hand. some obServ-
ers here see in the hubbub raised
in Germany over the sentencing of
the Germans convicted of espion-
age in Nemel the first constructive
steps in a predetermined program
by the German Nazi government
for a recasting of the eastern from
tiers of Germany, aimed eventually
to pinch off the Polish corridor and
recapture Memel for Germany.
In this direction, many officials
here believe, lies the real danger to
the peace of Europe rather than
in the scrapping of the military
clauses of the Versailles Treaty