Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-05-26

ing commitments for the use Of force
abroad would probably not last over
night. 1t is beyond cavil true that
the empire would refuse support unless
the British Isles were invaded or
starved out. And I wonder whether
any one is foolish enough to think
that Hitler does not know and under
stand these facts.
Germany is responsible for the pres
ent acute tension. The situation be-
came really dangerous the moment
Hitler announced rearmament in spite
of the military clauses of the Versailles
treaty. But this does not mean that
only Germany is in the wrong. In
falling to cut down their ornaments
the Allies broke no specific engage
ment, IS Germany did in denouncing
the treaty, but there is no doubt that
during all the years since the war they
have failed to live up to the spirit of
the covenant Of the League Of Nations
or to fulfill their implied promises in
the treaties of peace.
Two Wrongs Are Wrong.
But because one side has done wrong
through omission is certainly no ex-
cuSe for the other to do wrong through
commission. Two wrongs simply do
not make a right. A broken engage
ment Is indefensible and neither the
arguments of sophistry nor the pleas
of government nor the dictates OF
fancied necessity can make 1t any
thing but immoral.
Unless the entire character Of the
regime changes and the present thinly
yelled aims of German expansion are
dropped in consequence, can see no
possible eventual outcome for Europe
except war 1t will probably not come
in the immediate future. Hitler will
not start a war and Is not ready to
have any other nation do it; other
nations are unlikely 10 start trouble,
since they could only with the greatest
difficulty, if at all, persuade their men
to march across national borders.
Hitler is sincere enough when he
talks about peace. in that he would
far rather accomplish his aims with
out war than with it. II he remains
in power he will try to carry out his
program bit by bit, at every move
adding something, but never enough
at one time to cause an outburst.
He wants, of course, to do away
with the Polish Corridor; to get back
the small territory Of Eupen and
Malmedy allotted to Belgium; to have
Danzig fully incorporated in the
Reich; to take over the German dis
tricts of Bohemia; to add Austria and.
probably, eventually, Hungary, to the
German nation.
Hitler had the curious illusion that
If the people could vote in these
various territories they would vote for
union. 1t happened in the Saar. but
there was far from unanimity in
Danzig. and it is probable that this
informal Danzig vote Will do more to
make Hitler go slowly than the Stresa
Conference or any meetings OF the
League. He is testing sentiment. He
has announced the rearmament of
Germany-and Europe will not fight.
II he should get Danzig and the
Polish Corridor. especially if it were
through some apparently amicable ar
rangement with Poland, there is little
chance that Europe would fight.
way DCcOulc impatient.
So one can go through the list and
see that no single item would surely
bring war until one reaches the an
nexation of Austria. Certainly today
and in any foreseeable future that
move would be resisted by force Italy
does not want Germany on its frontier.
On the other hand, if these steps are
taken one by one and are singly sue
ceSsful. and if the Nazi idea retains
its grip on Germany, Hitler is bound
TO become overconfident. to move too
fast and to precipitate trouble. There
( is always an excellent chance, also,
that some one of Germany's neigh
bors might stupidity bring on trouble
at any moment.
The League will not stop war
because it cannot. II America were
a member the League would be just
as powerless as it is now, unless we
were willing to commit ourselves in
advance to fight with the Majority
To this we should never blindly agree
An anti-German coalition might well
postpone war for a long time, but the
United States must no more join that
coalition than it must join the League
of Nations. There is no reason in
the world why We should become in
volved, but if We are to keep out of
trouble 1t must be through calm I'M
Outstanding of the situation, through
holding our emotions Sternly in check
We should be mad to place too
much reliance or the fictitious pre-
ventives of war, such as control of
the manufacture and sale of NUM-
tons. refusal to loan or sell to bellig-
erents, taking the profits out of war or
staying at home when war occurs.
These things all have their use if
calmly and wisely done, but they are
and must always be by-products of an
honest and honorable neutrality; they
must always be results, rather than
causes.
Would Prevent Contagion.
So let the theorists discuss the vir-
tues and the weaknesses of the prob
able contending forces They will help
us the better to understand the issues
at stake, and, understanding. to re-
main more firmly than ever American.
Let other theorists discuss the pros
and cons of various anti-war devices:
some are useful in themselves and
some are useful as emotional outlets.
But let the thinking people of this