Evening star., 1935-02-15

Great possibilities are seen by the
American press in the latest under
standing between France and Great
Britain on air defense and the pro-
posal to modify the treaty Of Ver-
sailles so as to permit rearming BY
Germany on condition that she re-
enter the League of Nations.
"One Of the most important politi-
cal steps taken in Europe since the
World War" is seen by the st. Louis
that it would legalize the rearming
of Germany that has been Illegally in
process for the past two years" That
paper AYERS that the insistence of
France on this question has been
the chief obstacle to disarmament ne
gotiations," and expressed the opin-
ion that Germany will endeavor to
cooperate in the promotion of its
own interests, for the promotion of
peace and for general economic re-
covery"
THE success of the plan," thinks
the Brooklyn Times-Union, depends
mainly on Hitler, but in great meas
ure, too. on its reception by the mill
tary authorities of Germany. They
have shown some signs of restiveneSS
recently, and may force Hitler to de-
cline to cooperate in the new French
British plan, which, If effected in its
entirety, would undoubtedly bring
peace to Europe, but with Germany
submerged"
Declaring that "the new Germany
is naughty and headstrong." the
Springfield CMaSS.) Republican feels
that "such a Germany will almost
certainly insist on having something
to say on the terms of cooperation. :"
and that "the guarded tone of its
comments thus far indicates that it
will be in no hurry to decide
"It is yet too early" in the judg-
ment of the Atlanta Constitution,
"to feel that the problem Of Euro
pean peace has been solved. That
will depend upon whether the major
nations all sign the pact and whether
the new agreement will itself contain
no provisions provocative Of dissatis-
faction"
This decision was reached" ac-
cording to the San Francisco Chron-
icle, after a seven-hour talk be-
tween Flandin and Laval of France
and Macdonald and Simon Of Great
Britain. This sounds like a good
seven hours work, but 1t is only a
start. Age-old questions will not be
ironed out overnight, but at least
these exchanges by statesmen indi-
cate a will to peace"
The view that Germany may be
favorably disposed is upheld by the
Milwaukee Journal, the Watertown
IN. " Times, the Cincinnati Times
Star, the New Orleans Times-Pica-
yune, the Buffalo Evening News, the
Moines Tribune, the Kansas City
Star and the ST. Joseph (Mo) News
Press. The Louisville Courier-Journal
thus sums up: "Germany's demands
for equality have been met. The dis
armament clauses of the Versailles
treaty that have so Inundated the de-
feated power have been scrapped.
France has reversed its policy of try
ing to keep its Teuton neighbor pow
erless and under subsection. The way
at last is open for Franco German
rapprochement, and unless the Hitler
Reich has warlike intentions 1t can
not dismiss with cynicism this mo-
mentous endeavor to restore the peace
to Europe"
Germany is not to be coerced,"
thinks the Birmingham (Ala) Age
Herald, "but the implication is there
that If she refuses to return to the
League, to participate in disarma-
ment conference, or to join the air
defense agreement, she will have con-
sdemned herself to an isolation whieh