Evening star., 1937-06-13
u. S. SECRETLY WORRIED
BY EUROPEAN SITUATION
Potential Trouble That May Lead to
War Still Exists in Spanish
Waters.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

when Ambassador Bullitt tele-
phonad from Paris that the crisis
caused by the bombardment of
Alnerla had passed. For Is hours,
while no positive news regarding the
movements Of the German Fleet were
available, those who have the respon-
sibllity Of guiding Americas ship of
state were seriously worried For
our Government no longer takes an
academic interest in international
affairs. The President has pledged
himself to policy of peace and feels
he may have to go long way to full
MI this moral obligation toward the
nations who appear to be striving to
keep the world at peace.
Through Dr. Hans Dieckhoff, the
Reichs new Ambassador at Washing
ton, Mr.. Hull, in his quiet gentle man
ner, gave Germany lecture on the
Importance of peace. The reason why
nothing more spectacular occurred is
that the German men of war sailed
for Melllla instead of Valencia, as
they had been earlier reported. Had
they appeared in the harbor of the
capital Of the loyalist government,
they would have been met by units of
the French and, probably the British
Fleets. And the American public
would have discovered that the cur
rent European storm affected this
country differently from the one on
August 4. 1914
Optimistic but Concerned.
Yet the sigh of relief may be only
OF short duration. Washington is
officially optimistic that the crisis has
passed, Privately however the con-
Germ over the European situation is
greater than it has ever been before.
The Deutschland -Almeria incident
Is closed. But this affair was just one
of the boils which appear on a diseased
body. The boil may be lanced, dressed,
and will disappear But its cause.-the
actual disease-still remains, and may
provoke other symptoms which will
lead to the patients death.
This episode was an effect, not a
cause. The causes are deeper and
are to be found in the fundamental
dissenSions among the nations of
Europe; The fight between fascism
and communism; the contest between
Great Britain and Italy in the Medi-
terranean: the rivalry between Ger
many and France in Eastern Europe
and Germany's desire for expansion at
any price. 1t is the same old conflict,
dating back to the Versailles treaty-
the conflict between the "haves" and
the have nots"
Germany and Italy scored one i'm
~ oF l,n
bombing Of the Deutschland. They
have withdrawn from the nom
intervention committee and now have
free hand to do whatever they like
In Francois favor.
They tied their hands to a
neutrality" which, in fact, they have
never observed since they signed an
agreement in September, 1896, and
then joined the non intervention
agreement in London of this wear.
True enough, they have been pouring
arms, ammunition and men into
Spain, but this was done on the sly.
Now only force can stop them from
sending ali the men they want to
assist the Spanish nationalists in
their difficult fight against the forces
Oh Ine valencia government.
The consequences Of such open
assistance may be extremely grave
Either the other poWers-France
Great Britain and Russia-will close
their eyes to these recognized allies
tand this would mean an early defeat
OF the Spanish loyallStS) or they will
oppose it by force, which would mean a
serious conflict between the Fascist
Nazi forces and the other European
nations.
Little is known about the actual
conversations in Rome between Benito
Mussolini and Field Marshal Won
Blomberg. All that has percolated
through is that IN conference with
II Duce's advisers, Count Ciano and
Field Marshal Badoglio, they can
Vassed the general situation with
special reference to the possibility of
. general conflict.
Democracies Stall to Arm.
One thing appears certain to the |
Central European dictators: The |
European democracies do not want
war at this time and will do their
utmost to prevent its outbreak. But |
TO Mussolini and Hitler this desire of
the British and the French is due
mostly to the fact that they are not
yet prepared to meet the dictatorships
on the battlefield These two demo-
cratic nations want to gain time so
that their armaments can be COM
pleted. And then they will be ready
to talk. Their readiness to talk is
interpreted by the Italians and Ger
mans to mean Ito dictate terms"
The belief of Mussolini and Hitler
that the French and the British
intend to dictate" Is based on the
TACT that trial balloons suggesting
limitation of arms conference in the
near future were received with an
emphatic no" in London and in Paris.
Hitler sent his peace dove out in the
shape of an interview with the British
labor leader, the septuagenarian
George Lansbury, while Mussolini
spoke about disarmament to an Amer
lean newspaper man. And what
makes these two dictators still more
suspicious is the fact that the United
States. which heretofore has been
pressing and pushing for limitation OF
armaments, has suddenly abandoned
all efforts toward that end
The general situation, from the
point OF view OF the Italians and the
Germans, continues to remain favor
able to military adventure
British rearmament plans are pro-
crossing satisfactorily but they are
slow. The French rearmament pro-
gram is still slower. Trade union
regulations-a maximum Of 40 hours
9 week against the German and
Italian 60-hour week-are the prin-
cipal causes of the delay. And while
the German and the Italian Armies
are not completely prepared for a
major conflict, their arsenals are
ready, their factories have been placed
on a 100 per cent efficiency basis to
produce everything the armies need;
large stores of raw materials are
hoinU accumulated oVory