Evening star., 1935-02-17
This
Changing
World
Blomberg and Fritsch
Keep Hitler From
Errors Abroad.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

INCE Hitler has been taken firm
ly in hand by the ReichSWehr
leaders. Gen. Won Blomberg and
Gen. Fritsch, he has not MADE
a single tactical error in the
field of international politics.
THE Reich stands by its rights,
he repeats to the foreign Ambassa-
dors in Berlin, land I am willing to
play ball with you as long as you rec
ognize the justice OF Germanys s
claims"
*&
Germany's reply to the Franco
British proposal to join them in an
agreement to assure peace OF Western
Europe was a good piece OF Shrewd
diplomacy.
Before notifying the British and
the French about the German inten-
tions, Hitler made it known to the
world that he wanted a plebiscite in
Austria. Then he told Laval and Sir
John Simon, separately, that Ger
many was willing to join the proposed
defensive pact.
In accepting the air pact, Germany
marked an important point-the rec
ognition by these powers Of the fact
that Germany is entitled to military
aviation. Thus the first step toward
the scrapping of part v of the Ver-
sailles treaty was accomplished.
The announcement that plebiScite
would settle more easily the Austrian
problem disposed of the condition in
the Franco-British pact that the
high contracting powers guarantee
AuStria'S independence:
Hitler's advisers Enew full well
that neither France nor Italy would
accept the test of popular vote in
Austria. Even if the reports from
Austria that more than 80 per cent
of the population is in favor Of a
German Austrian union are exagger-
sted, the French and the Italians
know that a plebiscite would favor
Anschluss by quite a substantial ma
jority. After the Saar experience
neither of the two countries want to
appeal to the German-speaking popu-
lation for a decision regarding their
status in Europe's family of nations.
X
The great difference between the
foreign policy of the group led by
Britain and that of the Reich Is that
while the former is drifting aimleSsly
in the dark, the latter has a we'll
defined objective-the territorial re-
integration of Germany and the eco
nomic domination of the territories
from the Baltic to the Black Sea.
Gen. Won Blomberg is nice gen.
tleman of the old school, who makes
an ideal front for the power behind
him. Gen. Fritsch, much younger
man. and a few other young colonies
are the actual driving power behind
Blomberg and Hitler.
The latter, afflicted by throat all
ment, is quite happy to spend much
time in the Bavarian Alps. and play
the role of standard bearer of the
army. The Reichswehr leaders are
more reliable, the Fuehrer has found
out. than the Goerings, the. Goebbels
and the other big drums Of: the Na1
party.
The Reichswehr is against q war.
That is to say, it believes that If Ger
many can obtain what she wants
without fighting, it would be much
better to adopt a semi-conciliatory
policy and not force the issue. It
also believes that vain threats and
empty sonorous speeches, such as
Goering and Goebbels used to make,
can do no good under the present cir
cumstances. Its slogan is Get ready
for any eventuality, but keep quiet
about it."
y
European statesmen still speak with
awe about Locarno. But the people
of France seem to think very little
of it.
The late Aristide BRAND, the or
ganizer of the present European peace,
used to have a boat, the Simonelle,
on board which he used to dream
about the United States of Europe
and world without armies. navies
and air forces.
BRAND is dead. The Simonelle was