Evening star., 1936-12-06

the fundamental basis Of Q nation 3
existence But there are two ways Of
assuring it; by armaments and by the
development of substitutes for war.
Now, the German dilemma Is largely
due to the fact that it Is immensely
competent in the former field. In
which it has had long experience, a
proud history and an unrivalled
plant: while the substitutes for force
in international affairs with which it
has experimental - the League of
Nations, the Disarmament Conference,
the World Court, arbitration, con-
ference and all the postwar crea-
tions of international agreement
have left it dissatisfied and aggrieved.
The long and ghastly shadow of the
World War still lay over the confer
ence hall; distrust persisted. and
where there is distrust there can be no
true settlement. Therefore Germany
came to the conclusion that It's case
would be listened to and rights would
be respected only when it could strike
the table with q mailed fist.
Hence the Third Reich and the re-
birth of German militarism. But
hence, as well, the old vicious circle
of pre-war days, with not only Britain
and France frantically racing against
the German lead, but smaller nations
as well. Hence, also Chinese walls to
trade so that each nation shall learn
how to live by itself. in q state of
economic siege in time of peace.
This is the real obstacle to recovery.
Not the actual danger Of war, but
the tremendous dislocation in both
finance and industry; above all, the
isolation and economics maladjust-
ment Of Germany.
New Self Denials Demanded.
The measure of Germany's effort tc
meet the dificult situation in which
she finds herself-dimculties partly
Of her own making, but nevertheless
real enough-has been brought home
to Germans in that great proclama-
ton which Hitler issued at Nurem-
berg on September 9 last. This wa,
one Of the most eloquent appeals ever
addressed to any nation. In spite OF
the long list Of achievements which il
recites, there must be q new four.
year plan, with new self-denials anc
continued national isolation. Why!
There Is but one answer to this, from
| Hitler to the street-cleaner: Germany
must be prepared against the dangers
Of "bolshevism." For that it mus
make every sacrifice.
Now what Is the real meaning OF
this? Outside of Germany it is re.
garded as q smoks screen to hide other
ambitions. How would Stalin's legions
reach Germany? The frontier oi
Russia Is far east Of Prussia. More
over, the whole drift of Stalin's policy
has been against foreign adventure.
The object lesson most frequently
cited In Germany is the civil war in
Spain, for which Moscow Is blamed
I was in Spain few weeks before the
rebellion and have seen enough OF
things there to deny this theory OF
history, widely held in America a.
well. The government Of Azana was
not Communist, although it included
some on the Left Wing; and in the
chief reform it was putting through
the division of the great estates among
the peasants-it was about q CEN
tury and a half behind most of the
rest of Western Europe. In one small
German state. Mechlenburg, where
the old system had lasted on, 1t was
Hitler's government itself that carried
through the reform.
After Spain's military leaders re-
volted, the liberals in Azana's govern
ment had to make way for radicals
who are more given to action than the
milder men previously in power. But
Moscow came fully into the scene only
after it had become desperate.
History Too Complicated.
All of this history was too compli-
Gated for most people, however, and
Hitler's warning against Soviet inter-
ference in Western Europe was effec-
tive because it bore some resemblance
to the final state of affairs. The fact
that the Nazis were helping Franco
was not in the headlines.
The conclusion Is that Germany
needs an army second to none just
about as much as we or Great Britain
need a fleet second to none-for bar
gaining purposes in diplomacy. 1t Il
q dangerous method, but 50 long q
foreign offices play poker with guns
beside their chips. they can't blame
Germany for wanting to join in.
To carry out her program, Germany
needs certain raw materials, such a.
copper, cotton, nickel, oil, rubber and
Q few other such staples Of industry
1t apparently has . strange delusion
that these can be procured II 1t car
get back its colonies. But Germany'i
trade with her colonies before the war
after years Of development, was lesa
than l per cent of her whole foreign
trade. It Is clear that, economically
speaking, the return Of the colonies
would mean little. As for supplies OF
raw materials-they come from where
the raw materials exist, and that Il
chiefly outside colonial territories.
The real reason for Germany's de-
mand for colonies Is prestige. As q
great power. she feels the need Of q
place in the sun. She Is denied 1t by
those who seem to be. basking in the
sun overmuch. But what If all stopped
basking on their separate possession
and made the open door reality?
That Is the solution to which liberal
minds are turning. 1t Is to. be hoped
that they will carry the day, for Il
they do Germany will find II easisr to
change tho spirit and the direction Of
its policy. Then and only than can
thsre b complete economic sseoVEy'