Evening star., 1937-11-14
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

TN THE dark ages of European his
tory two or three robber barons
were wont to band their forces
together in order to pursue more
successfully their predatory policies.
Sometimes these combinations of
forces lasted only short time, be-
cause their scope was limited, and
they would terminate when the part
ners fought over the spoils. On other
occasions the alliances ended in the
domination of one baron over the
other, thereby producing an empire.
The same method has been adopted
In our own century. The agreement
signed on November uniting Ger
many, Italy and Japan "to fight Com
munism in the world is combination
of forces seeking to obtain new ter
rttories and markets by force. Musso-
iini. Hitler and the Toxic military
CLIQUE see no other way to obtain what
they believe to be their sacred right
q place in the sun.
Had the great European democracies
seen the light some years ago: had
they realized the trend of the policies
Of the authoritarian states, there is
no doubt that the world would not
have been confronted with this new
combination of powers which has
adopted as its political motto I'VE
take
News of the Italo-G -German-Japanes
alliance was no surprise to the State
Department in Washington. It had
been expected for three weeks. The
announcement was carefully timed.
Force VS.. Force.
When the delegates attending that
gerheads only two days after the open
ing. the three dictators decided to
serve notice that force would be met
with force; that the Japanese, al
though belonging to another race, were
considered by Hitler and Mussolini
as true partners in world where
only the mailed fist is considered ade-
quate to enforce justice. and that the
Japanese people will not find them
selves isolated in the event the world
democracies decide to apply coercion
against nation sharing the political
philosophy of the European authori-
tartan states.
The United States Government had
hoped to utilize the Brussels confer
ence to galvanize the European powers
into common action against further
progress of the nations which have
replaced international agreements by
jungle law. The administration has
40 belicose intentions. True enough,
1t sent delegation, headed by Norman
Davis, to Europe to discuss the Far
Eastern problem. But it was hoped
that Mr.. Davis persuasive manner
might induce the British and the
French to discuss the question of the
inundated territories taken from Ger
many after the World War.
It was also hoped that such a bait
to Germany and Italy would isolate
Japan. And once isolated, the Nip
ponese empire would listen to reason
and be frightened by the specter of
blockade. This particular word has
not yet been pronounced openly, but
the Toxic foreign Office has received
more than one hint that an adamant
attitude would necessarily force the
peace-seeking powers to apply this
strong method "for the ultimate good
Of Japan herself"
Mediation Planned at Brussels.
The injection of Hitler as an abiter
IN the Far Eastern crisis was a scheme
formulated by the little Macliavellis
at Brussels. The democratic govern
ments believed that Germany could
have no interest in the destruction of
China. There had been sufficient in
dication, it was said. to show that the
Reich wanted China to remain an in
dependent geographical unit. The
German Ambassador at Nanking. for
example, had made several speeches
expressing Berlin's friendly interest in
the Nanking government.
OF course, there was never a uues-
ton of giving the Reichsfuehrer a COM
pletely free hand. The plan was to
have him start the mediation ball roll
ing, and then add at least two other
powers vitality interested in the Far
East-the United States and Great
Britain. Nobody at Brussels quite an
ticipated what this mediation proposal
would bring forth. Ever since 1881,
when Japan began the conquest of
China, the Toxic government has stub
bornly refused the Intervention of a
third power in the Sino-Japanese con-
dict. Why today. when she. is in a
stronger position than formerly, Japan
should be thought amenable to such
proposal Is one of those mysteries
which only diplomats can understand.
The Brussels delegates, however,
seeking a formula" rather than a
solution, believed that Hitler might be
able to do something. They think the
German-Japanese agreement of 1896
was a bluff. The diplomats of the
Western democracies believe that any,
thing that does not suit them is a
bluff. They thought that the pros
poets of few crumbs of trade in
China would win the Reich away from
its Oriental ally. The British and the
French toyed with the idea that a
formula which might save their faces
(even if China must ultimately accept
Japanese domination) was all that
could be expected out Of the consulta-
ton at Brussels.
Hitler Willing to Play Ball.