The Washington times., 1937-03-29
Bismarck's Hope for
Moscow Treaty Never
Eradicated

ITanScenQlng Dy lar IN pOCenClaI
importance any event of recent
years in Europe is the rumor-
until now only rumor, but sup
ported by remarkable circumstan-
tial evidence-that Soviet Russia
and Nazi Germany may drop their
differences, form an alliance, and
set out to divide the continent be-
tween them.
Such a development seems at
the moment to be too fantastic
to deserve serious consideration,
but 1t Is a fact that its possibility
is being weighed with foreboding
in the secret councils Of every Eu-
ropean capital.
Even though cool weighing of
probabilities would make the odds
III to against any such eventual
ity, yet even one chance in 100 of
the continents witnessing COM
bination Of the two greatest mill
tary machines in the world, with
Germany'S incompatible industrial
apparatus linked with RusSia'S
limitless resources and rich agrl-
cultural supplies, makes it threat
ening enough to disturb q dozen
governments profoundly.
Each Feared Other
Heretofore Nazi Germany has
armed principally. she declares,
to defend herself against COM
munist Russia, while the Soviet
Union has retaliated by asserting
her own monster ornaments are
for defense against Germany.
Caught in this titanic race, all
other nations of Europe have
been forced frantically 70 increase
their armies, and the only com.
forting reflection left to the
smaller states is that the two
giants would rub each other out.
Now the prospect, however re-
mote, that they could unite is
enough to bring despair to the
rest of Europe, for no conceivable
combination Of other nations
could hope to stand up against
such q colossal pair, except the
equally colossal but also improb.
able combination of England,
France and the United States.
Several pieces Of evidence are
adduced to support the rumor.
Russian Changes Noted
Foremost are changes in Russia.
In that country, Stains EXTERN
nation of one of the last vestiges
of Trotskyism in the famous
recent trials-more of which are
to come-is said to be applicable,
perhaps, by Stains plan to intro
duce a new policy so startling that
it would require complete absence
Of any opposition to carry 1t
through.
A Russo German rapprochement
would be such a policy.
It now is reported that the
head of the Red army, Voroshilov,
who has led the anti-German
policy, is in less favor with Stain,
who has elevated the chief Of the
Red army general staff, Igorov,
a pronounced proc German, Sto
actual leadership of national de.
tense.
At the same time, the system
of political commissars, origin.
ally used throughout the Red
army during its birth and in.
fancy, but later discarded, has
been reintroduced, especially in
the air force and navy, with the
object of educating Red officers
and men into acceptance of CO.
operation with, instead of hostil-
ity against. Germans armed
forces.
Meanwhile. no amount Of ora
torical hostility between Hitler
and Stain has ever eradicated in
the Reichswehr its profound
preference for the Russian al.
lance which Bismarck advo-
Gated, and abandonment Of
which by wilhelm II ultimately
resulted in Germany's loss Of the
World War.
Relations Secretly Cordial
During these last four years
of Hitler's platform campaign
against the Soviet Union, his
Reichswehr has maintained pro
fessionally correct, but clendes.
timely cordial, relations with Red
army chiefs.
This is because the Reichswehr
believes that with the red army
the Nazis could do anything they
liked in Europe, but against Rus.
STA, Germany could hope for a
stalemate at best. or defeat at
worst.
Now, those who claim prophetic
qualities aver that Germany has
1t in her cards this year to elevate
Hitler to a position even more
remotely lofty than his present
one-to make him realm-leader in
perpetuity and relieve him of all
but inspirational duties-while
Goering becomes chancellor, &C.
tually to run the Reich.