Evening star., 1935-03-18
VALUE Of PROTEST
TO REICH DOUBTED
US. Watches Developments
in Europe-0utbreak
Held Unlikely.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.


Ambassador at large Norman H.
Davis arrived todsy in Washington
and called at the State Department
where he remained closeted with Sec
retary of State Cordell Hull and his
assistants discussing the European
situation and the possible conse-
uuences of the denunciation of the
Versailles treaty by Germany.
The State Department is keeping
In close touch with the European de-
velopments through American am
bassadors in the various capitals, but
so far there has been no approach on
the part of interested powers for
consultation in view of possible action
The opinion in official quarters in
Washington is, for the time being,
that strong protests to Berlin are not
likely to have any effect. Further
more, the general opinion is that
Germany's official announcement of
her decision to have an adequate army
tends to clarity the general situation.
Hopes Still Held.
It has been known for more than
a year that Germany was rebuilding
its military machinery. The only new
element in the situation Is that
Germany has not admitted openly
what she had been doing subrosa for
the last few years.
The strong advocates Of the limi-
tation of arms idea still cling to the
hope that something may be achieved
even under the present circum-
stances.
Their rgument-purely theoreti-
calls that since Germany has de-
nounced the Versailles treaty and has
an avowed army, all the nations
might now get together and stabilize
armaments at the present German
standard 1t is admitted, of course
that there are many angles in the
situation which might make a re-
sumption of the limitation of arms
parley difficult in the immediate
future; but the increasing burden of
expenditure on national defense
might force governments to take up
the limitation of arms idea.
This is, however, secuted by the
practical diplomats who consider the
situation extremely dangerous.
An outbreak of hostilities is not ex-
pected in the immediate future.
France and Great Britain, according
to reports from abroad, hate set to
work to complete the encirclement of
Germany by a system, of formal
alliances.
France is busy at the present mo-
ment consolidating its somewhat
weakened position with the Little
Entente. Rumania, Yugoslavia and
Czechoslovakia are primarily con-
cerned with the possibility of the re-
armament of Bulgaria and Hungary.
Diplomatic quarters consider the pos
sibility of Hungary's rearmament as
more likely to bring about an explo-
sion in Europe than that of Germany.
Great Britain, which has been
keeping aloof of any definite entangle-
ments with the Soviets, has been won
over by the French government to the
idea that closer cooperation with
Moscow might be advantageous.
Capt. Anthony Eden, Sir Johns as
slstant, Will proceed to Moscow next
week to discuss the general situation
with Stain and Litvinov.
Neither the French nor the British
dare challenge GermanyS action by
direct measures. The idea of submit
ting the matter to the League of Ma
tions is admittedly impossible. since
the League can do nothing but send
note of protest, which will be thrown
into the waste paper basket by the
Reichsfuehrer.
Russia's Aid Essential.
The only way out. London and
Paris believe, is to form a powerful
circle around the Reich and neutralize
in this manner the power of the new
German Army.
For that purpose Russia's assistance
Is considered essential. OF course
there are many difficulties in Russia's
way. The strained Soviet-Japanese
1eldIlotlS are propaDly the principal
handicap to the Moscow government.
Japan has not given up the idea of
conquering the Maritime Provinces.
and any possible entanglements of the
Moscow government in the West
might offer an excellent opening for
the Toxic government to settle at a
small risk its scores with the Soviets.
The next few weeks, it is believed
In Official quarters in Washington.
will be the most momentous the world