Evening star., 1936-03-22
FRANCE HOLDS PEACE KEY
IN NEW EUROPEAN CRISIS
Great Britain Counsels Moderation as
Russia Awaits Opportunity to
Further World Revolution.

throughout Europe. For this reason
the Soviet government, until recently
a mercileSs critic of the inequities of
the Versailles treaty, has become its
stanch defender, generously offering
France the support of the Soviet
Army and the Soviet air force.
Russia worries little about German
invasion of the Ukraine. Her army is
strong enough to defend her borders
against possible German invasion. 1t
is the belief an attack on the Ukraine
would be the ideal moment for an
other world war and, consequently,
world revolution.
Poland abandoned France in 1888
when the French government refused
to listen to the demand of Marshal
Pilsudsky to march into Germany
now, because three years hence it will
be too late" The Poles don't like the
Germans but they hate the Russians
In the present structure of military
alliances, if Poland were to abide by
her treaty with France. she would be-
come the battle ground for Russian and
German armies, and this is the last
thing the Poles want If they were to
stand by Germany, Russia would be-
come the battlefield and Poland
might escape the destruction of war.
Paris may hope that the treaty of
alliance With Poland is still valid. 1t
is, as long as war has not broken out.
but the day Russian airplaneS fly over
Poland on their way to Berlin it will
become scrap of paper.
Italians Bide Time.
Italians. perched on the edge of the
Ethiopian mountains. are biding their
time. Ambassador Breckenridge Long
reported from Rome a few months
ago that on carloads of coal coming
into Italy from Germany NaZi rail-
waymen chalked in bold letters. Wait
for us until the middle of March. We
shall be with you then"
Whether Mussolini will throw his
lot in with Germany or remain
strictly neutral, intent only on con-
tinuing his Ethiopian campgain, is a
question which II Duce himself has
not decided yet. Cooperation of
Italian forces with the French and
their allies is out of the question
regardless of what inspired Paris re-
ports say.
Great Britain is clinging desperately
to the peace idea.
The British are practical politicians.
Anthony Eden and the rest of the
cabinet indorsed WhOle-heartedly the
French contention that Germany is
guilty of violating the Locarno and
Versailles treaties. The British gov
ernment is ready to go to Frances
defense, should she be attacked by
Germany. but London thinks it re-
mote possibility. The feeling among
Britons is that the junking of another
set of treaties is not worth a world
war.
The Unconditional British, more than
any other people in Europe, are con-
Scious of the social consequences of
another conflict. And, while they
do not believe chaos and anarchy
would spread to the British Isles. a
disrupted Europe would be detrimental
to British interests.
Theat to Empire Feared.
Furthermore, Great Britain is con-
vinced that the safety of the empire
will be at stake the day the British
armed forces embark upon an adven-
ture on the European continent.
The situation in the Far East, too,
is dangerous. Japanese militarists
might strike at the British Empire
with the same ease they would strike
at Russia should either become in
volved in Europe. And the British
Navy, concentrated in European
waters between the Mediterranean
and the North Sea, would be in a DO
sition to defend neither Singapore
nor the British possessions in the East.
1t is because of the possibility of
such a contingency that Downing
Street in recent months has ap-
preached Washington so frequently.
They want to determine whether the
American Navy might become the
policeman of the white races in the
Far East. And, because of the en-
phatic no" it has received, Great
Britain does not dare risk the hazards
of a new war in Europe.
The key to world peace is not in
Hitler'S pocket. He has thrown his
bomb and is waiting patiently for
the smoke to clear to see its effects.
France holds the key. If Marianne
listens to .RuSsia's advice the world
will again be bathed in blood. If she
follows John Bulls counsels of mod
Grafton and peace the world will be
spared another tragedy, for the pres
ent at least.