Evening star., 1937-12-12
Britain Forces France to End
Steel Ring Around Germany
Lord Halifax Sells Empire on Realistic View oil
Central Europe and Kills War
for Ideals


in the maintenance Of the shaky Little
Entente. Leon Blum pledged his word to
rush to Czechoslovakia's rescue in the
event she got into trouble with the Reich.
Chautemps, too, reassured the Czecho-
slovak government that he would honor
the promises Of his predecessors.
When the leaders Of the two European
democracies got together in London, their
talks lasted less than, three days and COW
cred everything from the Rhineland to
the japanese invasion Of China The real
istic Britishers had the upper hand over
the sentimental French. Austria, the
Frenchmen we're told, has been living ar
tiflcially. She is bound to become a part
Of Germany sooner or later For the Ger
mans this is family affair Just as the
British would resent any outside interfer-
ence In their relations with Ireland. for
example, so does the Reich consider any
alien Intervention in the Austrian question
as uncalled-for meddling.
Why Not Be ReaIists?
Der Feuhrer, an Austrian himself. looks
over from Berchtesgaden to Salzburp and
dreams OF the day when the lands of the
Rhlne will be linked with those of the
Danube. In race and language, the Ba-
varians and the Austrians are a more
homogeneous people than the Scotch and
the English. And from the practical point
OF view, the British ask, would Messrx
Chautemps and Delbos undertake To De.
clare war on Germany because Hitler wants
Austria to become a member of the German
family? Hence, point out the Br,ti.h
Leaders, why should France and 1rita;r
not accent a 1icfic
eyes II Der Fuehrer wants to add 1000 ooo
Austrians to his realm?
There was little that the French d,r,o-
mas couio answer. Their legalistic minds
eou!o nave NrnShed wealth Of argument
1. nsans' tne ciosely Knit arguments Of the
British. But behind that friendly talk Law
an hairect warning: If you are going to
make TOOLS OF yourselves by threatening to
20 10 war Tor lost cause, you need not
count on the support of the British
Empire" A'''
Hitler is determined to fight for the uni-
fication Of Germany. So would the british
under similar circumstances. But the
British people are not willing to fleb. for
something which does not touch their skin
That, at least, is the prevalent thought in
the minds Of Prime Minister Chamberlain
and Lord Halifax. This being the case
shall the British government plunge into
war, stake the empire, and cony,lIse the
world to preserve and enforce the racial
ascendency of 100000 Czechs over $500.
600 Sudeten Germans?
Hitler Offers Solution.
Halifax seems to have had positive assur
ances from Hitler that Germany covets no
| territory from Czechoslovakia All he wants
Is complete autonomy for the Germans who
hve IN the Central European republic. The
sudeten Germans are not geographically
separated from their kin. Most Of them
| run along the border of the Reich and
occupy the other slope of the same noun
tan. There are other nationalities in
Czechoslovakia which are in the same pre-
olcament as the Germans. The republic
can hold together. Hitler informed the
British emissary. by Swiss cantonal con-
stitution allowing equal racial rights.
OF course. the British government appre-
ciates Frances commitments But, after
all, they were made at a time when
Europe's problems were different from
those of the present day. France had
forged these alliances with the Little
Entente and with Poland in an attempt to
encircle Germany with q ring of steel.
certainly not in the mood to fight against
oermany's ascendancy Neither is Yugo-
slavia willing to risk armed conflict so long
as her borders are not threatened. Ru-
mania, In the throes Of domestic political
upheaval, is doubtful ally. Russia is pur-
suing policy of self-preservation.
1t is entirely understandable, Chautemps
and Delbos were told, that they should in
1tya0 fhn{r vi
derstands this better than a nation of gem
tlemen like the British. But realities are
| realities and much as Britain desires to
| Cooperate with France, his majesty's gov
ernment could not ask the country and
| the empire to risk war with incalculable
consequences for the sake Of Austria and
that will-o'-the-wisp. Czechoslovakia.
| France Sees Determination.
Whether Chautemps and Delbos agreed
with the British logic is difacult to say
But they comprehend clearly that Great
Britain will not participate in any scufle
to defend the integrity of Austria OF
Czechoslovakia.
| So Delbos was dispatched to inform
Frances allies and admirers in Central and
Southeastern Europe that peace can be
maintained in Europe only If everybody
makes some Slight concession" Germany
would agree to postpone the question of the
"retransfer" Of the colonies for few years
| provided that she is given jurisdiction ovel
| 10,500,0 900 German-speaking people now
| living in Austria and on the slopes of the
Bohemian mountains The Little Entente
| must not make q casus belli in the event
an Austrian "plebiscite" favors the union
| of that republic to the Reich. The CEecho-
slovak rulers should swallow their pride
and give the Germans living in their coun-
try an autonomy which will really amount
| to such a union. Commercial agreements
on the Hull pattern, might later be con-
cluded and everything would be for the
best In this world Of many troubles.