The Washington times., 1937-10-16


that you have left us-shaQ I say
a little trouble.
I'VE recognize your sincerity
but the terms in which you have
expressed yourself have been,
to say the least of it, unusual" -.
II am not a politician" Matres-
ser replied, neither am I a diplo-
mat. have Travelled all my life
in different parts Of the British.
Empire and Of Europe and be-
lieve I can say that was among
the first to discover the real feel.
ing in Germany.
Il have interested myself in
that because long ago I came to
the conclusion that European
peace with a disconnected Ger.
many could never become per,
manent condition"
''The conclusion was without
doubt justified but I shall be as
frank as you have been frank"
Lacheur declared.
Even after your very plausible.
explanation. neither my colleague
nor I wholly understand how you
ventured to proceed with these
negotiations and preserve such
extraordinary secrecy"
CHAPTER xxXv
II must ask you once more to
remember" Matresser said, that
I am here today as an amateur
in all the subterfuges of diplomacy
or the conventions Of political
methods. If what say sounds
well, impertinent-forgive me.
"A fortnight ago, think 1t was,
you succeeded in obtaining a vote.
Of confidence in the Chamber by
a majority of thirteen votes. Sup.
posing you had been in our full
confidence and lost that vote, you
Yourself would have been a politi.
cal derelict for the time and Mon
sieur Desselin, once more a free
lance journalist.
You both would possess in.
formation which, if any Of it
leaked out, would have ruined the
whole scheme. To put it plainly,
for some days until your successor
was appointed, there would have
been no France with whom we
could deal and a hungry press
would be barking at you"
Lacheur tWirled his mCuStache
nervously.
80 having come to that de-
cision," he observed, you took the
destiny Of France into your own
keeping and legislated. as it were,
for her"
do you complaint" Matresser
asked.
VITAL THRUST
1t was vital thrust Neither
seemed prepared with a reply.
"A single paragraph. a single
headline in one of your news
papers or ours" MatreSser con-
tinued, and the affair was fin
iShed. Our government would
have resigned and the moment
would have passed.
"As things are at present we are
In a unique position. Our cabinet
has decided upon this measure.
We have an enormous majority
and it will be law before we 80 to
the country"
In other words" Desselin OBJ,
served, with good humorous cynic.
ism, you are going to act first
and the people afterwards"
THAT is our intention, but
meanwhile the swing Of great
events will have started. Ger
many will have changed her gov
eminent, her dictator will have
resigned.
"She will become once more a
monarchy, but this time limited
monarchy with a predominant
Lower House. A similar change
in Austria will be brought about
without a dissenting vote. Italy
will follow her lead"
"And that insignificant but
still to be reckoned with country
France" DreSSelin asked with
gentle sarcasm, what provisions
have you made for her continued
existence upon the map?"
Thank US once more for our
reticence," Matresser replied. I'VE
have no means of knowing how
strong the royalists of France may
be, but it is our profound convic-
ton that your country can never
again revert to any form of mon
archical government.
your revolution went too deep.
cut too permanently into the heart
of the people. Nevertheless, our
silence, of which you are COM
planning, has been your security.
I will even go so far as to suggest
that our government in this in
stance has acted with generosity.
WORST BLOW
"She suffered the worst blow
since the war at your hands. my
friends, when you fancied that
you saw salvation in Italy. She
Stiffened her lips and accepted
what was coming to her, but that
was the end of the League OF Ma
tions."
"You travel fast, Lord Mat
reSSer." Desselin remarked. 1.-THE
League of Nations still functions.
It still has great future"
Ito Be COntlnued)
Copyright BY
n r