Evening star., 1935-06-16


wig Holstein or her colonies, or fortify
the demilitarized zone-withoIlt in
curing the risk of war. Germany
does not want TO avoid war, either
now or in the future, any more than
does Great Britain, France or Soviet
Russia. But the Nazis have Tot re-
their demands for further
revisions of Versailles; they have
merely admitted that revision through
force is impossible and undesirable
Cor the time being. They are willing
TO have recourse to peaceful pro-
cecures or patiently await Der Tag"
That Is where the present move
ment toward an arrangement" Is
II Germany comes back
to Geneva she will not worry the
League any further about its unful-
filled disarmament obligations. But
she will raise the question Of srticle
10. which provides for "rectification
of treaties which are no longer equi-
table and which may lead to wars"
Article 19 has oeen carefully kept in
The background largely because the
succession states did not want &C give
in to Hungary, Austria and Bulgaria.
The Chinese tried unsuccesstClly to
invoke it against the British and 9TH
ers when they denounced the "un-
equal treaties" If the ex-allies agree
to give article 19 life, the Germans
will find their way back to Geneva in
short order. Before October Is it is
predicted
The question of German equality of
rights" politically and militarily, oan
be considered as settled. That Is one
positive accomplishment of the Hitler
regime. Only through resumption
of the Reduction and Limitation of
Armaments Conferences negotiations
can the German armaments question
be reopened at Geneva. Berlin in
stinctively and with good reason, dis
trusts the French bloc at Geneva and
Will seek an agreement with England
and France-through bilateral nego-
tiations. on land, air and naval forces.
Time Ripe for Cancellation.
Statesmen here and in Paris and
London, who have been keeping their
ears to the ground and their eyes fixed
on political realities, are now privately
saying that the time is ripe for con-
Citation moves from both sides. The
Nazis have repeatedly held out their
hand to France and Great Britain
and turned their backs upon Moscow
Now their attitude toward the Rus
slams is softening. The die-hards in
France and England are steadily losing
ground. Reactionaries still place no
faith in German professions of peace
full intentions and many diplomats
hold similar views. But the political
set-up in Europe, against Germany.
has reached point where there is
nothing to be gained by continuing to
ignore Hitler. Likewise. little, If any
thing, would be lost by putting Nazi
sincerity to a test. If Hitler's fingers
are crossed the French will be no lesss
secure" than they now are, because
any negotiations undertaken will be
based upon the maintenance of the
common 'front.'" collective security
and and the ex-allies keeping several
jumps ahead of the Germans in the
armaments race. That Is, unless Ger
many makes commensurate con-
cessions.
AS for the Nazis, there is a definite
limit to their rearmament program.
That limit, economically and f1nan-
cially, has about been reached, accord
ing to DR.. Hjalmar Schacht, minister
of economy. British and French Of
ficials accept this as fact. Far from
improving the international political
and internal economic situation, Ger
many has been going from bad to
worse. A "plebiscite" these days, it is
said, would not be hattering to Hitler.
1t is admitted that the Nazi govern
ment can continue ''muddling along"
for an indeterminate period, but the
political, economic and social conse-
quences will be dangerous. Germany
needs sterilization in Europe more
than anything else If she is to preserve
what she has already gained.
With the Saar problem out OF the
way, the Austrian AnSchluss shelved
or rather left to evolution in Vienna,
the fortification Of the demilitarized
zone of no immediate Importance and
fraught with considerable external
dangers If rushed, Hitler now has to
concentrate on works of peace and re-
construction if he hopes to maintain
his hold on the German masses. That
means more jobs, stable currency, ex-
panding trade and social reforms. jew
batting and Haunting the spectre OF
Bolshevism have lost their potency
and the crusade against the Catholic
and Protestant Churches is very un-
popular. The German people-llke
the French and British-want peace
and a chance to live, work and prosper.
The only way Hitler can get this
is through a working arrangement with
the French, as well as his other neigh
bors. Frances ability to weather the
deepening crisis also is bound up with
her relationship with Germany. Only
Fascist Italy remains bellicose and in
the long run Mussolini does not count
for much internationally.
susceptibilities Dull Quickly.
Another favorable sign these days
is the ease with which national amour
propre is assigned. Yugoslavia was
bitterly injured when King Alexander
was assassinated; Germany was stung
by the Stresa and Geneva declarations;
France was greatly excited over Ber-
Inns rearmament program. But ma
tional susceptibilities dull quickly.
Spain once left the League and came
back at the first invitation; Russia
has forgotten most of her hatred Of
capitalists since consorting with their
governments at Geneva. If the League
Assembly invites Berlin, with bended
knee If necessary, to come back" the
chances are that the Nazis would
snatch at the opportunity. Even
Japan would come back to the League
omorrow-forgetting the denuncia-
tions Of three years ago-if the ques-
ton of Manchukuo's recognition could
be bridged.
One significant development which
Is noticeable is the silence Of anti-Nazi
refugees domiciled in France. The
order has gone out to Max Braun and
his Saarlanders, to Georg Bernhard
and his Pariser Tageblatt and Jewish
colleagues, to Rudolf Breitschied and
the Socialists to lie low and say moth
ing. Even in Moscow, and at Geneva,
Lityinoff has ceased his TRADES against