Evening star., 1937-06-13

SIX weeks, two of the ablest military
leaders have been done away with.
Field Marshal NJ N. Tukhatchevsky-
probably the ablest officer in the
Russian Army-has been denoted and
sent to an insignificant post in the
interior OF the country. General j. B.
Gamarnlk, formerly in charge OF the
political education of the Red Army,
has blown out his brains-because so
the official communique stated, he had
been mixed up in Trotskyist plots.
These two cases indicate a profound
division OF opinion among the Soviet
leaders. Such lack Of unity is con-
sldered favorable omen by the
German general staff.
Japan's Army Under Eclipse.
In Japan, on the other hand,
the situation once more is delicate
The military government OF General
HayaShl has been overthrown by the
civilians, who are tired of military
adventures and expenditures. On the
surface, 1t appears that the more
conservative element in Japan is
getting the upper hand.
But confidential information from
TOXIC indicates that this change may
be only temporary. In the past, every
time the generals and the admirals
lost ground. some new military ad-
venture has brought them back to
pubic favor. And it is not unlikely
That, faced with the danger of being
kept out of office. the military clique
Will find new worlds to conquer for the
japanese people. There is nothing
much for these people to do in China
Taking another slice of the Celestial
republic will not appeal to public
imagination. So the japanese general
STAINS are casting speculative glances
IN other directions-north, toward
the Maritime Provinces, and south,
toward the Dutch East Indies. The
action of the japanese military must
be correlated with plans OF the Ger
man general staff and, indirectly. OF
the Italian generals.
In the Mediterranean. the Italo-
German forces are convinced that
they are holding the trump cards.
IL Is true that the British Navy is
concentrated within few days sailing
OF Gibraltar The French Navy, with
It's latest units. is concentrated on the
west coast with its advance guard
submarines and the tWo-men torpedo
ooats-at Malorca. Seventy-ive per
cent OF the German Navy now is in the
Mediterranean. The German Ita lian
forces are believed to have a moral and
a strategic advantage The moral
advantage Is due to the fact that the
French are extremely reluctant to
night. On account of the internal
situation in France. its citizens will
fight to the last man If their country
is Invaded, but they will show less en-
thuslasm for any other cause. The
British are concerned over the empire
more than over Spain or other Euro
pean problems. There is decided
trend in Great Britain to avoid a
conflict with Germany and concen-
trate on Italy-when the empire
forces are ready to accept Italy's
challenge for supremacy in the
Mediterranean. When that time
comes, the British statesmen believe
that war will not be necessary.
1t is for this reason that British
diplomacy is at work to detach Ger
many from Italy. For the time being
1t has met with no success-despite
rumors to the contrary. There is a
parallelsm of interest between the
two dlctators and no sentimental con-
slderation will change it.
So far, all that Great Britain has
been able to offer Hitler is her love-
love to be shared with the French
British romance. Mussolini has al
ready given more than that. He has
surrendered Austria to the Nazis, and
has accepted second fiddle in the
Danubian Basin.
There is widespread belief in the
United States and in many European
democracies that war will not vet
come, because Great Britain does not
want it. This was true until Germany
and Italy became first-class military
powers. 1t was even more true 30 and
40 years ago when Great Britain was
the arbiter OF Europe. But Britain has
ceased to hold that role. The British
still believe that their word will carry
weight despite the setbacks their
diplomacy has suffered In the course
OF the last two years. But it is
doubtful whether the "upstarts," as
Hitler and Mussolini are described in
the London press, will accept Britains
policy as their own.
Because of this changed situation II
is feared here that some minor Incl
dent, such as the destruction of a
ooVlet merchantman carrying supplies
TO the loyalists, may cause a debacle,
1t Is feared that the growing tension
between the Germans living in Czecho-
sloVakla and the Czech government
may provide the occasion for German
intervention in that republic. And
Whlle the democratic powers still talk
about collective security and the in
olVlslblllty of peace, the dictators are
pledglng themselves to follow the same
policy and assist each other in every
conceivable circumstance
MussoIini Presses Hint.
hihoaSsaoor William Phillips, IT..
our representative in Rome, was re-
celVed IN private audience bv
Mussolini while Field Marshal Won
Blomberg was still in Rome. II Duce
was as cordial as ever. Once more he
was eager to know all about the
president and his work. And in the
course OF the conversation he managed
TO throw hint expressing surprise at
the fact that the administration
showed so little interest in the dis
armament problem.
FulVlo Suvich, II Duce's Ambasador
AT washington, made it his business
TO drop in at the State Department
the day after Mussolini had let
out his trial balloon about a dis
armament conference and mentioned
casually his chiefs interview. The
answer was courteous and extremely
non-committal. So Mussolini took
advantage of Mr.. Phillips visit to
mention this matter once more-with
the same result: Premature, not quite
the time; better to wait for a more
propitious moment, etc. Not that
III Dllce iS anvipps 70 ~ ol.,>a -