Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-02-23
WAR EXPECTED in EUROPE
In FROM 6TO Ii MONTHS
Exact Moment of Outbreak Held De-
pendent ON Whether France or
Germany Takes Initiative.

currency-managed by the French
general staff.
The "Marseillaise" is still the popu-
lar anthem in the three Little Entente
countries, but the French government
is less popular. The seed of suspicion
was planted in the minds of the Yugo-
slay, Rumanian and CZechoslovak
leaders the day the French govern
ment under Daladier formulated the
four power pact, the basis of which
was the revision of the postwar treat
les. That Great Britain, Italy and
Germany should conceive such an
idea appeared natural to the Little
Entente. But that France, pris-
oner of the peace treaties. like them
selves, should entertain such thought
was too much.
Italy to Lead Neutrals.
Mussolini says good humoredly that
Italy will, in this coming war, lead
the block of neutrals with the slo-
gan: Sell everything to everybody
for the highest cash price" What
ever antagonism there has been in the
Poot OCGWCCl Vic dllu
II Duce because of Austria and the
German-Italian rivalry in the Bal
kans has now disappeared. France
has joined Great Britain and the other
nations of the League in the sane
tons SPORT which came near to
wrecking Italy's plans in East Africa.
Furthermore. from the purely mer-
cenary point of view, there is nothing
France can offer the Italians. Musso-
lini seeks new territories outside
Europe. Germany might be able to
offer some reward for a strict Italian
neutrality Tunis and maybe some
of the carcass of the British Empire
should the latter join in the fight. But
the French bag is empty.
What of Great Britain, heretofore
the arbiter of war and peace in Eu-
rope? Can John Bull maintain that
position?
The answer is no. Before 1914 the
domination of world politics by Britain
was unquestionable. Italy was in the
tow of the British Empire, although
officially allied to the central pow
ers, while Japan, still purely Oriental
nation of the second rank, was Brit
aims ally. Britain ruled the waves at
that time.
The situation has changed since.
Italy is following an independent
policy, antagonistic, since last Fall, to
the British.
Japan Pursnes Expansion.
In the Far East Japan, no longer
a friend of Great Britain, is pursuing
a policy of expansion of her own.
The British must keep watch in the
Mediterranean and in the Indian and
the Pacific Oceans. And the truth is
that neither their fleet nor their avia-
tion is today strong enough to fight a
war in Europe, maintain the COM
munications with the empire and keep
the Japanese from encroaching on
British territory.
Great Britain Is worried over the
latest European complications. The
British government and the British
people are pledged today to rush to
Frances succor in the event of an
unprcvoked German attack. But
there are diplomats in Downing street
who are ready to interpret the word
"unprovoked" in accordance with the
interests of the empire, now that
Russia and France have definite
offensive and defensive alliance.
Germany is by no means a lone
wolf. With the exception of Poland
and possibly Hungary, she has no
other allies in Europe. But the last
war proved that too many allies can
be cumbersome baggage. But she
has a definite understanding with
Japan. This understanding provides
that the two "have-not" nations would
work in close corporations; that
neither would start major campaign
without consulting the other.
Japan wants to expand as much
as Germany and Italy do. But the
future action of Japan will be dictated
exclusively by developments in Europe.
If Great Britain keeps out of the tur-
mol, the Japanese armies will march
northward and will take the maritime
provinces while Germany is carving
her empire in the Ukraine. If the
British are drawn into the battle,
Japan will move southwark.
Washington Takes Notice.
Rumors of war have been so fire.
quent. ever since the end Of the
last World War, that United States
military circles have become hardened
to the cry wolf" But this time
even placid Washington. sits up and
takes notice. The country is strongly
for peace and against foreign en-
tanglements. But nobody can FORE
see what turn war on a large scale
would take.
The foreign propaganda is again
active throughout the United States.
America is too big and too rich q
country to be overlooked by the would
be warning nations. The late North
cliffe stated once that 1t took about
10000 to get a small nation in
volved In the World War and 40