Evening star., 1937-08-15

BY SIX ARTHUR WILLERT.
7 ONDON-Except that the rest
less ambitions OF the dictator
ships lie behind them ALL the
- causes Of the present European
war scare are varied and contradictory
In Germany, some people consider
that the weakness Of the foreign poll
cies of the democracies is the great
danger because, together with the in
ternal difficulties Of France, it may
tempt Berlin TO move which even
the most pacific Of governments would
have to meet with something stronger
than words.
lnVersely, one is told that Berlin is
80 impressed with the growing military
might of England and with the way
IN which French armaments are in
creasing In spite OF political and fnan-
cial embarrassments that it may at
any time make a coup in Czechoslo-
Vakla or somewhere while the going
Is still comparatively good.
In Italy, there is the same inter
minellng OF superiority and inferioritv
complexes People who ought to know
what they are talking about saw that.
IN spite OF all his propaganda about
the decadence of England, Signor
Mussolini is really afraid that Eng
land Is trying to maneuver him into
A position in which he will have TO
night In order that she may then have
her revenge on him for Ethiopia, and
that that is one of the reasons whv
In spite of his abusive propaganda, he
still courts her from time to time
Economic Difficulties.
The economic dificulties of botr
relationships contribute to the war
talk. In Milan the industrial and
financial capital OF Italy. I found a
very real fear lest his financial diff
culties might drive the Duce to a
desperate explosion, to declaration
OF war against the Spanish govern
ment. for instance Paris. a few
weeks later. was agitated by the same
possibility. Similar apprehensions in
regard to Herr Hitler are voiced in
GERMANY Foreigners who have busi-
existence of much worry and discon-
tent as to the economic future and
above all as to the feasibility of the
plans for self-sufficiency which the
government is trying to put through.
And on his return from Central
Europe, the traveller finds that Paris
and London, especially London. are
as nervous as ever about the posi-
bility of the Spanish war turning into
general war. Supporters of Fol eign
Secretary Eden's non-intervention
policy are never tired Of telling one
that, If the policy breaks down and
al! sides begin to take an untram-
meled hand in Spain, then, indeed,
anything may happen.
How much is there in all these
apprehensions? Undoubtedly. the
situation is dangerous. 1t could not
be otherwise with so much explosive
stuff about and all the standing prob
lens of Europe unsolved. the tradi-
tional incompatibilities Of France and
Germany unreconciled. the grievances
and ambitions of Germany and Italy
unsatisfied, economic nationalism i'm
peding recovery, and so on. But the
general impression one brings back
from the Continent Of Europe is that
the danger can very easily be over
estimated. that the current war scare
is. to some extent anyhow. due to a
misconception of what is fundamental
and what is not in the affairs of the
Old World.
War, generally speaking, is likely
to come as the result of % some
country being driven to fight by a
desperate emergency. ca the delib-
crate policy Of country or group of
countries, (3) accident.