The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-05-09
FRANCEN0 LONGER BOSS
SAYS KN|CKERB0CKER

NOC unLu the summer OF 1871
does Europe expect the present
crisis to become ipcurdbly acute"
1Drites H. r. Kntckerbocker, star
foreign correspondent for Inter
national NetDs Seruice, In con-
cludtn0 his series Europe Skirts
the Pit" today. In this Sirth
article Knickerbocker tells HON
Europe has beer. compelled to
"chooSe sides" betDeen Russia
and Germany, and tDhy he be.
lieDeS the "tneuitdble" iDGr tDiu
toGit telD months longer.
By H. R. KN1CKERBOCKER
copyright. 1885. by international
News servics)
LONDON, May Q U.N.SJ.
France does not know it, but this
year she ceased to be boss Of Eu-
rope, and today she is only q
pawn, though the biggest one, in
the titanic struggle between Nazi
Germany and Communist Russia.
These two furieS, Teutonic and
BolShevik, have grown until they
dominate Europe and now the
Continent has to choose sides be-
tween them.
Upon the choice may depend
the chances of each for victory
when the day" arrives, for by
that time the individual strength
Of each power may be evenly
matched.
Each has an enemy at its back.
The Soviet Union has Japan to
threaten her rear. Germany has
France to threaten hers. The So
Wet Union has built q wall of
men, guns, tanks and airplanes
to protect her Manchurian border
against Japan. Germany likewise
Is building a wall Of Notifications
to protect her against France.
Soviet, France Allied
Between Germany and the
Soviet Union lies no wall but q
country, Poland. Poland's choice
viii be the hardest when she has
to make it. Until the choice be-
tween Germany and Russia is
made by the principal military
powers Of the Continent and until
1t results IN a clear preponder-
ance for Germany, the day Of de-
ciSion will be postponed. How
do the nations now line up?
On paper, the paper Of treaties.
the force seems to be overwhelm-
1ngly on the side Of the Soviet
Union. This year she made
France her ally, and France Is
allied with nearly every other
country in Europe.
France, it is important to OBJ
serve, asked the Soviet Union for
the alliance. France was the
suppliant. French statesmen, Her
riot. Laval, went to Moscow. This
made history.
Hitler Offer Spurned
It meant that France turned
down for good Hitler's offer Of an
alliance with Germany. Hitler, it
10 agreed, is clearly sincere In de-
claring he wants to make no war
upon France. He merely wishes
to immobilize her. If it could be
done with an alliance, so much
the better. If not, then with Ger
many's new wall Of Notifications
IN the Rhineland, now building,
Then, when France, although
armed with her Soviet pact, failed
to repulSe the German step into
the Rhineland, it meant in Eu-
ropes opinion that France was no
longer the most powerful nation
on the Continent, but that Ger
many was, and that France, be-
hind her warlike gestures, was
really for peace at any price, even
the price Of alliance with the
Soviet Union.
Poland In Key Role
This was to complete the ring
around Nazi Germany. It did
complete the ring. But the ring
would only be effective If it held.
What parts Of it will hold? 90.
Counting clockwise around Ger
many, the ring consists of Poland,
Czech Slovakia, Runania, Jugo-
slavia. italy, France, Belgium and
England. In one way or another
each Of these countries Is pledged
to assist against Germany. But
ever since Hitler came to power
the might Of Germany has grown.
Its growth has exercised the fasci-
nation power always provokes.
After all, in war every nation
wants to be on the winning side.
Poland'S position is decisive,
Only through Poland could Ger
many directly reach the Ukraine.
Poland Is pledged to France and
mas q non-aggreSsion pact with the
Soviet Union. She also has one