Evening star., 1936-03-15
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

Europe by Hitlers bomb may
| have speeded the peace doves
\ which Geneva dispatched on
March 2 to Rome and Adds Ababa,
but the occupation of the demilitarized
zone of the Rhine by the Reichswehr
forces and the repudiation Of the Lo-
carno treaty by Germany have thrown
Europe into a new state Of panic.
Not that Hitler's move was unex-
pected. Since last November the
French and the British general STATS
had redundant proofs that the demil-
itarized zone of the Rhine was myth;
that German forces and especially
German fighting planes were being
brought into that region in large num-
bers. Few. however, expected Hitler
to complete the military occupation Of
the Rhineland with a brutal gesture.
Old-school diplomats believed that he
would be satisfied with a de facto"
remilitariZation, without throwing
down the gauntlet.
Neither did the European diplomats
expect an open denunciation of the Lo-
carno treaty. Peace instruments, such
as the Leagues Covenant, Locarno and
Stresa, were to be allowed to die a
natural death. Hitler killed Locarno
violently. as if he wanted to come to
an immediate showdown with France.
With one stroke of the pen he de-
stroyed what was left of the frail peace
structure Of Europe. To be sure. Hit
Ier's gesture will not bring about war
at once What the Reichsfuehrer has
done is to bring war closer.
Much to Convince Germans.
Leaving aside the provocative man
ner with which the German dictator
disposed Of the last vestiges of the
Versailles treaty and of the Locarno
pact, there is a good deal in his his
torical speech before the Reichstag
which is bound to convince the Ger
man people that there was no other
way out for a nation like Germany.
The suggestion of the Reichsfuehrer
that demilitarized zones should be es-
tablished along the borders of all in
terested nations may be a fallacy.
France and Belgium, and recently Hol-
land, have spent millions of dollars
to prepare powerful Notifications
against Germany. 1t is most unlikely
that they will be willing to destroy
them now in order to comply with
Hitler's peaceful" offer. But the
German people see in this proposal
only sincere peace move on the part
nf fhair leader Thew
why. if Germany is compelled to keep
her borders undefended. the other ma
tions should have chains of impreg-
nable Notifications.
This philosophy had to be accepted
while the treaty Of Versailles was still
in force AS far as the German people
are concerned. that treaty has ceased
to exist and its provisions are now void.
In the same manner the effective
ness of the Locarno treaty for all its
signatories became questionable from
the moment the Franco-Soviet alliance
took effect. Like all postwar alliances,
the Franco-Russian agreement is sub
ject in the first instance to the rules
and regulations of the League of Ma
tions. Should the League fail to reach
decision in the event of an aggres-
sion, then France undertakes to give
the U. S. S. r. all the aid and assist
ance required under certain circum-
stances"
French Saw Pact Consequences.
The French government was aware
Of the consequences of the ratifications
of the Franco-Russiap so-called mu-
tual assistance pact. And there were
many in France who believed that the
day the French Parliament put its seal
of approval on that agreement. Ger
many would call OF all treaties and
pacts made by its previous republican
governments.
But France, worried over the grow
ing power of the Reich, decided to take
chance-counting on Russia's mil
lions of men under arms and on Bald
wins famous statement of IS months
ago, that 'the frontiers of Great
Britain are no longer bounded by the
Channel but by the Rhine"
Hitler and his advisers have played
their cards with Bismarckian skill.
They we're brutal and shrewd. They
presented France and her allies with a
Germany holding an olive branch in
one hand and spear in the other.
The moment for this presentation
has also been carefully chosen. AT
time when the League of Nations was
stepping on II Duce's toes with pro-
posal to accept peace in East Africa
within the framework Of the Cove
nant" Hitler, with complete disregard
for the, sanctity Of treaties, threw over
board all postwar agreements. Mus
solini. Der Fuehrer expected. irked by
the attitude of his former allies in the
World War, could do nothing but con-
done and support the German action.
Japan Sharpens Sword.
And in far-away Japan the military,
who have now more complete control
of Japan's diplomacy than ever before,
are sharpening their swords for the
final showdown with the Russians.
Despite the French mobilization
along the eastern border. despite the
rapid concentration of troops on the
Russian western border, despite the
feverish military activities throughout
Europe. there Ia no certainty that the