Evening star., 1936-12-13
BY ROBERT E. ARDEN.

TUROPE'S outward peace is only
~ q fimsy cover for the present.
day ruthless economic and po-
litical struggle. which Is moth
ing else but q continuation of the
World War by underground methods.
And the abdication Of King Edward
VIII may have large part in de-
termination of future courses. Peace
full and dignified though the event
was in England, 1t is an occurrence
loaded with potential danger for Eu-
rope. The British government seems
to be fully aware Of this fact. This was
proven by the haste with which the
government has tried to whip the nee
essary legislation through both houses
to sanction the change on the throne
and, at the same time, maintain the
political status quo.
This status quo is of vital impor-
tance not only to Great Britain, but
also to Central and Southeast Europe.
as short analysis Of the prevalent
conditions shows.
The foremost interest at present is,
Of course, centered in the Spanish re-
bellion. If the losses and casualties
reported by both sides of the bellig-
erents are only half true, there could
not be enough Spaniards left to form
the numerical strength Of soldiers re-
ported attacking and defending the
widespread battle fronts. Frequently
reported arrivals of "volunteers"-
Russians and French for the Loyalists
and Germans and Italians for the
rebels-give definite proof that Spain
has become the battlefield for far more
important interests than an internal
Spanish struggle for power. The pre-
mature recognition Of the rebel gov
ernment by Hitler and Mussolini (who
are Germany and Italy, respectively
forced them to 60 the limit in their
support of the rebellious Spanish Fas-
cists in order to avoid becoming the
laughing stock of the world for recog-
nizing a government which does not
exist, either de facto or de jure. And
thus Rightist and Leftist political or
ganizations clashed openly in Spain.
maybe postponing, but certainly not
averting, a general European conf1a-
grafton.
Great Britain is vitality interested.
The southernmost tip Of the Spanish
peninsula is the Rock Of Gibraltar, the
most important strategic link OF Eng
lands way to India. which, under any
circumstances, must be preserved.
The present British government has
so far succeeded in maintaining a
diplomatic attitude which avoided
open peril to England's interests. A
sudden change of that government,
however. would bring about change
In its official attitude and thus, Of
necessity. implicate Great Britain In
the open warfare. If the change
should occur to the right, it would
mean more or less active support o.
the Fascist cause, which would not
only endear Europe, but also most
critically imperil the empire, as it is
questionable whether the dominions
would show any friendly attitude
toward fascism. 1t would also COM
pletely isolate Leftist France, which
so far has maintained cordial relations
with England that are of vital impor-
tance to English foreign policies, be-
cause England and France are the two
countries in the world which own the
most foreign colonies. This. enables
them to command their outstanding
positions on the world market.
Turn to Left Means Breaches.
A turn to the left. however. would
mean q breach with Hitler and Mus
solini. And there is no telling what
the consequences may be.
But there are several more "kegs of
dynamite" in Europe, particularly in
Central and Southeastern Europe,
which may be set off by the slightest
spark. 1t is unquestionable that the
tlsst ty Of Versailles put an end to the
outward hostilities of the World War,
but, at the same time, it created nu-
merous other danger points where the
flames of political hatred continued to
burn under thin layer of ashes.
Every now and then, in accordance
with the increase in the tension of
local political conditions. these flames
break out into the open and create
the danger Of general conflagration.
The Balkans have ever been such a
danger point in Europe. In addition
to that several new irredentas have
been created which keep political
hatred alive. Austria. the former proud
empire. has been reduced to a bracho-
cephalitic monster which finds its eco
nomic conditions too little to survive
on and too much to die of. Hungary
will never forget its provinces taken
by Rumania, Yugoslavia and Czecho-
slovakia. and Italy-or rather Musso-
lini-has not given up the idea of
making the Adriatic Italian inland
waters in which the British Island of
Malta would be completely isolated
and OF little value as link and basis
for the Suez Canal
King Edward VIII was q frequent
visitor to these danger points. He
went hunting and skiing in Austria,
where his personal charm was most
helpful in the creation of most cordial
cAN aA1OAhSAdA ACldliOllo UClWctH LIle
two countries. Last year he spent his
vacation cruising in Yugoslavian
waters and frequently visited the cities
on the coast. His being godfather of
King Peter added increased weight to
his personal visits and strengthened
the good will there for England, which
is most important, because in these
parts Mussolini's aspirations to the re.
establishment of the Roman Empire
are centered and consequently his
activities greatest.
Britain Took Defeat in Albania.
Here Mussolini was able to defeat
England's diplomacy in the attempt to
thwart his Adriatic plans when he sue
ceeded in his peaceful conquest of the
small but important Kingdom of Al
ho,io Kino Ton hoA orro nood for a