The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-05-09

WAUAA \VAA46AAys 14CA 4Cu4 VI NOA
many has only one limit. That Is
her fear Of Red Russia.
Cxechs Fearful
CzechoSlovakia is strong In its
great Skoda munitions factory,
but otherwise fatally weak mill
tarily. In the framework Of the
Soviet alliances it should serve as
a landing field for Soviet war
planes on their way to bomb Sax
ony. France is relied upon to
defend CzechoSlovakia by attack
ing Germany.
But what good, Czechs are ask
ing now, will all this be when the
Germans have their Notifications,
and France can't move, and the
ReichSwehr occupies the Skoda
works and its anti-aircraft guns
welcome the arriving Russian
planes? Europe asks now what
would happen If the Germans in
CzechoSlovakia should demand q
plebiscite for their trip bordering
Germany and claim the same
right as the Saar to unite with
the Reich.
Under that doughty fighter the
new president, Edouard Benesch,
it Is inconceivable, as it was under
the venerable Masaryk, that
Czechoslovakia would capitulate
to Germany without q struggle.
But the German Notifications in
the Rhineland will so weaken her
strategic position that now she
fears it may be she and not Austria
to suffer the brunt Of the next
Nazi push.
Jugoslavia Offended
Austria continues to live from
breath to breath wondering when
she can cry Hell Hitler!" The
two principal Austrian NaziS, Ha.
bicht and Frauenfeld, now sit in
the Berlin reichstag. zach fresh
success Of Hitler augmentS his
following and the Rhineland coup
Swelled' their expectations to near
the bursting point.
Rumania will remain loyal to
France so long as the shrewd Titu-
leScu is its foreign minister, but
when Rumania is faced with the
choice between Germany and the
Soviet Union, her propertisd
classes may be counted upon to
react like Poland's.
JugoSlavia, strongest military
power In the Little Entente, al
ready may be counted out as An
ally Of the Soviet Union against
Germany. JugoSlavia was MORALLY
offended because France made up
to Italy. Any friend Of 1taly'S is
no friend Of Jugoslavia.
Now Germany has initiated a
trade treaty with Jugoslavia
which will give Germany around
so per cent Of all Jugoslavia's for
eign trade and q German conceS-
sion to build q JugoSlavian NUM-
lions works and q virtual mono
poly Of building new Jugoslavian
industry. KruppS becomes the
patron Of this French ally"
France Shuns War
Italy, uncertain partner Of
France, is no partner at all Of
the Soviet Union. France counts
italian friendship worth Is divi-
sionS or more, and italy might be
counted upon to defend Austria.
But Italy since her struggle with
sanctions is In no mood to help
anybody else. Her threats Of ALI
ance with Germany are not taken
seriously but only Austria divides
the two Fascist states.
Next in the ring comes France
herself and, strangest Of all, is
the impression now dawning upon
Germany that France, Of all the
ring, may be least willing to
march upon her enemy. Hitler
OWNED this long before his gen.
eral staff who urged the imminent
danger Of French attack If he
his troops into the Rhine
land.
But France never marched when
Hindenburg, precursor to Hitler,
came to power. She never
marched but gave unwilling con-
sent when Germany finally flung
off reparationS. She never
marched when Hitler came to
power, nor when the ReichStag
burned and the NaziS became SUI
preme.
She never mached when Hitler
tore up the military clauses Of
Versailles and announced his new
army, nor when Germany left the
League, nor did she march when
this spring the Germans did what
France had always declared would
be the final caSuS belli, and put
troops in the Rhineland and de-
noIlnced Locarno.