Evening star., 1937-06-20
RUSSIAN PURGE IS SIGN
GERMANY MAY EXPAND
With Britain Showing Less Interest.
Reich May Be Resuming Efforts at
Penetration Toward East.

approached them with the tempting
suggestions that there might be q way
to deal with Stain and his followers,
they listened and lent themselves to
the plans OF these two aggressive
neighbors Of the U. s. S. r.
There are rumors, originating from
the same sources which some months
ago told that Tukhatchevsky would
be tried and shot, to the effect that
Wassily Bleucher, the commander-in-
Chief OF the Siberian forces, will be
next on the list. He was one of the
judges at the present trial; as had
been some of the others in the past.
Germany has been careful not to 20
too far in antagonizing Great Britain.
While Mussolini continues to describe
Britain as the chief trouble-maker in
the world, and is fighting her with all
the means available to nation still
at peace, Hitler is having a quiet
irritation with Frances "perfldious
Albion There is no question of
Germany endeavoring to break away
from Italy. The time is not ripe for
such a desertion. But Germany feels
that 1t can gain nothing by pushing
the British too far. The German
leaders feel that there is no basic
conflict Of interest between the two
countries, If the Reich desires to ex-
pand eastward. And, while the British
government will be decidedly opposed
to any step the Reich may take In
regard to Czechoslovakia and Russia.
the people of Great Britain will exer.
else a good deal OF pressure on their
government to prevent its entry into
an armed conflict with Germany be-
cause of the Eastern problems which
do not concern the interests of the
empire
AT the recent Imperial Conference in
London this question was discussed
with the dominion premiers. And the
results have been encouraging for
Hitler. The dominions have urged
London to keep out of trouble because
OF Russia and Czechoslovakia. The
premiers might see the political i'm
portance Of Great Britain becoming
involved in such a conflict, but the
people of the dominions, especially the
Australians, the New Zealanders and
the Canadians. whose chief problem
is in the Pacific. will never agree to
an Intervention because territorial in
tegrity of Czechoslovakia and Russia
may be endangered.
Frances Stand Problematical.
II Great Britain is determined to
let the easterners fight it out among
themselves, conf1ning her efforts to
an endeavor to localize such a con-
f1ict. the likelihood of France living
up to the engagements she has un-
dertaken in treaties signed with the
U. S. S. r. and Czechoslovakia will
become problematical, especially with
dissatisfaction raising its tentacles in
the Red ranks.
1t is impossible to conceive that the
execution of the most popular and
prominent leaders Of the Russian
Army will remain without effect on
the army itself. The Soviet soldiers
are no passive mob, following what
ever leaders are imposed on them
by the government. They are think
ing men and they have been used
to hero worship. And most of the
men who have faced the firing squad
have been their heroes for many
years. Because of this inevitable re-
percussion on the rank and file of
the Red forces, it is believed that the
German leaders may take advantage
of the opportunity to precipitate
crisis in the East The old "Drang
mach Osten" (penetration towards
the East) Is the cardinal point of Der
Fuehrer's policies. The rumolings
in Czechoslovakia, rumblings which
are heard more distinctly in Mos
cow than they are heard elsewhere,
are becoming louder as time goes on
Observers who base their forecasts on
the logical development OF Germany's
foreign policy believe that a crisis
is brewing at present in Europe.
(Copyrisht. 1872