Evening star., 1937-04-18
Democracy Versus
Fascism
BY FREDERIC J, HASKTN.

international situation that, If smother
World War comes, the issue will be drawn
between democracies and Fascist forms
OF government. Since the first World
War there has been a steadily growing
movement toward fascism among certain
peoples while others have held tena-
ciously to democracy. 1t seems to be q
part OF the idea OF fascism to display
a considerable amount of chauvinism, as
in Germany and Italy and, experience
has shown, that when . country is
heavily armed and its people trained to
arms, war is almost certain to result.
The American Congress has been de-
batting neutrality laws and there seems
to be strong popular opinion in the
United States against any participation
in world war. It remains to be de-
termined whether it will prove possible
to hold to that neutrality. In any
event, the United States will be strongly
affected If, in no other way, through
its foreign trade. So then, how the
European countries are likely to divide
is of the first interest here.
The League of Nations In the view of
most of the world, has proved ineffective
In maintaining the peace which was
previsioned by Woodrow Wilson when
he was instrumental in drawing the
covenant which was adopted at Yer
sailles, but it has done much valuable
work in compiling statistics and making
studies Of world governments. Its most
recent important work has been the
making of a classification of democratic
and Fascist governments and this, if it
be adopted. should give something Of
key to how countries are likely to be
aligned in the event of broad-scale
political clash.
The League states that, at present,
major strength lies with the democra-
cies. This is because Great Britain and
France are so clasSed. Great Britains
strength at sea is given tremendous
weight. while the land forces of France
are granted to WELD mighty power in
continental Europe. However, In view
OF the waxing power of Premier Blums
Popular Front party, some doubt might
be entertained as to how long France
can be classiflable as democracy. The
leaning toward communism, or some
thing approaching it, is strong.
Although the tried strength OF Great
Britain and France has given the League
reason to count the European democra-
cies as holding the stronger hand, sta .
tistically the story reads in reverse.
There are 20 independent nations in
Europe and, while 16 of them are
counted as democracies, these 16 govern
only IS per cent of the population and
but one-fourth of the area.
The League lists only Italy, Germany
and Austria as being outright Fascist
states. They govern % per cent of the
European population and per cent OF
its area. The other countries are clas-
sified only as being democratic, but
the League seems to think that they
would be more inclined to lean toward
the Fascist side, in the event of war, than
to the democratic.
Presumably, the Leagues classification
Of nations is made on an arbitrary basis.
1t is stated that the rule followed Is to
call democratic those nations which have
Parliaments. It is somewhat surprising,
however, to find placed in the democratic
category the kingdom OF Albania. 1t
will be remembered how Zog, after hav-
ing been elected President. proclaimed
himself King and has remained . King
and dictator ever since. Other nations
placed in the democratic category are
Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Fin
land, France, Great Britain, Hungary.
the Irish Free State, Luxembourg, the
Netherlands, Norway, Rumania, Sweden,
Switzerland and Yugoslavia. Although
seven of these countries are kingdoms,
they are categoried as democracies be-
cause of their representative Parliaments
In addition, one, Hungary, is q regency
and probably will become . kingdom
again.
Soviet Russia is placed in 4 separate
class As the only outright Communist
country, and the League does not at
tempt to classify Spain pending the
outcome OF the civil war. 1t Is noted
that four Of the democracies are show
ing a drift away from that form of
government and may soon change over.
These are Albania, Hungary. Rumania
and Yugoslavia.
With so many countries In Europe,
Americans have been inclined to think
only Of the more important, but the
political situation in the others, even the
smallest of them, has bearing on what
may occur in the event of war because
it seems certain that, should the con-
flagration start, no country in Europe
could remain neutral. 1t must not be
forgotten that even the TRADITIONAL
neutral countries Of Holland and Switzer-
land have been lately increasing their
armed forces.
Looking at the others, it is seen that
Bulgaria has been under a dictatorship
since May, 1884, with political parties
had dictator since March, 1884, and,
since then, has been ruled by martial
law. A cooperative system, similar to
the Nazi regime, is being organized, with
events pointing toward the erection Of a
totalitarian state.
In Greece the Parliament has been
dissolved constitutional rights suspended
and political parties abolished. The
press is strictly controlled and the pre-
mier, who is practically 4 dictator, has
announced his intention to remodel the
state after the Italian type. The Par.
Lament of Latvia has been in dissolution
since May. 1884 Political parties have
been suspended and the government Is by
the premier and q council of ministers.
The press is controlled. Since February,
1896, Lithuania has had . one-party
system.
Poland, through constitution adopted
In April, 1885, legalized its dictatorship.
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