Evening star., 1935-03-17
Underwood Photo.

Underwood Photo.
them to take a definite stand against
Germany arguing that the German
will never change his nature and only
force can insure European peace and
British security, the British rebel.
All through the Disarmament Con-
ference they opposed and condemned
the French refusal to make conces-
sionS which they believed would sat-
iSfy German demands and prevent
German withdrawal from the con-
ference and the League, which pres
emily occurred.
But when the blood bath in June
and the Vienna putSch in July Of
last year occurred the British public
opinion cryStallized overnight and
found expression in the renewed as
sociation with France and the out
spoken opposition to German policy
alike in the east and the south of
Europe. Now, however. influential
voices in England are asserting that
since last Summer Hitler has become
good European" and it is no longer
necessary or wise to pursue toward
him the policy which last years events
rendered inesCapable.
If Hitler had modified his policy
and had been ready to give proof Of
1t either before or during the projected
talks with Sir John Simon, British
public opinion would have hailed the
change and British official action
been influenced thereby. But when
Berlin undertook to exploit the visit
to create wall Of misunderstanding
between Paris and London, without
the smallest evidence OF any change
in its own policy, London struck back
swiftly and, on the whole. savagely.
For, after all, If the British indulge
in Self-deception to an extent hardly
paralleled by any other people, they
are not any more easily deceived BY
others or any less quick to resent any
attempt at deceit.
Founded on Tradition.
There is only one basic truth about
British policy in Europe today, and
that is that this policy is founded
upon sublinfinal and instructive
tradition. If balance of power can
be established between opposing con-
tinental powers, Britain, assured Of
cheap security. will revert to isola-
ton. But if any country seems able
and determined to dominate the con-
tinent, while the British may be de-
liberately slow in recognizing the fact,
they will not be tardy in acting upon
it once they have made up their
minds. And nothing the Germans
can do will permanently blind the
British to German purpose. if it be
aggressive.
No shadow of a doubt exists in the
French mind that the German is
potential and permanent peril to
France. On the other hand, in the
British mind there is Germany
which is perilous and Germany which
Is devoid Of menace. Over and over
again since the treaty of Versailles
the British have modified their atti-
tude toward Germany because they
have been convinced that German
statesmen and public were sincerely
eager for peace and understanding.
These changes in British policy have
invariably precipitated quarrels with
the French, who have rejected British
reasoning. And the Germans can
never escape from the deluSion that
they can separate Britain from France
without renouncing the policies which
each regards as equally menacing to
itself.
Germans MiScalculate.
The last time I saw Marshal Foch
| he said to me, speaking of a con-
temporary German miscalculation
"Oh, those German mistakes, where
would be now If it were not for
! German blunders!" In the realm OF
diplomacy as of military operations
| the German mistakes arise from the
same essential miscalculation. Tao
tically during the war the Germans
were superior to their foes beyond all
doubt-strategically they were in
ferior because they we're never able
to penetrate the minds of their op-
ponents. Thus their attack upon
the point of contact of British and
French Armies in Picardy. just II
years ago this month, produced an
enormous tactical success, but 1t
brought about the unity of command
which was the sole prescription OF
victory for the allies.
The recent adventure Of German
diplomacy was of the same order. It
aimed at producing rupture be-
tween British and French statesman
ship, but 1t actually elected the White
Paper. Germany could, beyond ques-
tion, separate Britain from France
by renouncing policies condemned by
the British, but such separation would
then be without advantage. On the
other hand, to expect to produce di-
vorce by merely Disgusting policy can
only end in German discontinue
Exaggeratiop of the extent Of British
repugnance over having to associate
themselves with the French or any
other people is impossible. But as
long as the British see German policy
as a menace and France as the sole
and necessary ally against that men
ace, German diplomacy is bound to
be as futile as was its military
| strategy.
Copyright. 1889