Evening star., 1935-03-24

- when she precipltated the
putSch in Vienna, the present
uproar provoked by the announcement
of her military program has served to
make clear two facts:
The first is that war in any imme-
diate present is wholly improbable,
and the second that any prospect Of
permanent peace is equally lacking.
Germany has still to arm before she
can hope to fight successfully and her
potential enemies are unwilling to take
the offensive in war of prevention.
The situation today, thus, is quite
like that between 1905 and 1914 when
European tranquility was shaken by
the successive crises of Tangier, Bosnia
and Agadir, each of which quickened
the peace of armament and intensified
the tension. Then, at least, the
murder of the archduke at Sarajevo
touched off the powder magazine.
Before the next explosion it would
seem that Europe has still quite way
to travel, but not less evident is the
fact that it is well on its way along
familiar pathways.
Germany's recent announcement is
In itself not open to real question.
Only fool could imagine that great
people would forever submit to restric-
tions of their sovereign rights and
most of all their right to parity in the
means of self-defenSe for a period
longer than their own weakness made
inevitable. What Germany is doing is
natural and inevitable. What makes
German action the cause of a Euro
pean crisis is the man who today con-
trolls German destinies and the pur-
poses he has proclaimed.
Cause of the Agitation.
The fact that the treaty of Ver-
sailles, which is the public law of Eu-
rope, forbade Germany to claim mill
tary parity with France like the naval
equality we claim with Britain does
not warrant denunciation of Ger
many's present course, for the treaty
was imposed and in the respect of de-
nilitarization, as in that of reparations
and of the guilt clause, was contrary
alike to reason and common sense. But
the fact that Germany Is today In the
hands Of a man and a party whose
program Of violence is on all fourS
with the italian or the japanese ex-
plains the agitation of Germany's
neighbors.
The true criticism of Germany's
course is a criticism of the methods
and not the morals 1t discloses. Now,
as between 1905 and 1914, the true
objective of German policy must be
to separate Great Britain from those
continental countries-today France,
Italy, the Soviet Union and the states
Of the Little Entente-which are bound
in any case to resist German purposes.
But the several brusque moves of Hit
Ter, recalling those of William II
quarter century ago, have all been
calculated to set British nerves on
edge and confirm the underlying sus-
picion beyond the Channel that Ger
many in present hands is positive
peril to European peace and there
fore to British security.
British Keep Open Mind.
Today the British people are still
on the surface keeping an open mind.
Simon goes to Berlin as Haldane went
before in 1914. Since no one is ready
to fight, there will be conversations
all over the lot and not inpossibly
recurring debates for several years.
Again and again the British govern
ment of the hour, because Of its home
situation, will have to maneuver in
such fashion as to put G4many on
the spot" before the British public.