Evening star., 1937-01-17
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

n naval forces of Great Brit
~ ain, France, Italy and Ger
a many are on war footing.
The men-of-war concentrated in the
Mediterranean have their decks
cleared for action and carry live
shells in their holds.
Italian warshipS keep to their bases
= few hundred miles from Gibraltar
and the Spanish Morocco. Germany's
fast battleship. Graf Spec, and
number of brand new cruisers, de-
stroyers and submarines are at the
gates of the Mediterranean facing the
overwhelmingly superior British
French forces. 1t is situation some
what similar to that of 1914 when two
German warShipS, the Goeben and
the Breslau, were in the Mediterra-
mean and took refuge in the Golden
Horn, thus radically changing the
course of the last World War.
In Washington there is a feeling
OF hopelessness. The reports from al
most every capital in Europe indicate
that practically every means of recon-
ciliation has been exhausted and that
the new turn in Europe's political af-
fairs-the German infiltration in the
Spanish Morocco-may be the straw
to break the camePs back. Unless
some unexpected development occurs,
and Europe looks toward the United
States for that, it seems inevitable
that a showdown must take place be-
tween France and her supporters on
the one hand. and the two European
dictators, Hitler and MuSsolini, on the
other
Hitler Won't Molest Algiers.
There Is no longer question. these
days. as to whether Franco or Cabal-
lero shall rule Spain. The French
and the British feel that this time the
Germans are challenging Frances
domination of North Africa; that
Germany wants to gain a foothold in
the Spanish Morocco and thus be-
come permanent threat to an i'm
portant source of Frances food and
military supplies. For the time being
Hitler will not modest Algiers and
Franch Morocco. But he intends to
have France cast a long glance to-
ward Africa before making any move
to block German plans in Eastern
Europe. Even the Agadir incident in
1911 was not considered SO dangerous
to the peace Of Europe as is now the
presence of few thousand German
volunteers" at Ceuta and in the in
terror of Spain's possession in North
Africa.
The German move did not take the
French government completely by sur
prise. Back in August, a prominent
member Of the French cabinet told
this writer that the French govern
ment had documentary proof regard
ing the price Gen. Francisco Franco
had agreed to pay to Hitler and Mus
solini in exchange for their support
in bringing him to the head of the
Spanish republic. This agreement,
reached in April and May, 1886, pro-
vided that Germany would be per-
mitted to exploit and police the Span
1sh Morocco; the Italians might use
the Balearic Islands as a naval base
In case Of necessity, and under certain
conditions the British might be asked
to evacuate Gibraltar. Furthermore,
It was agreed between Franco. Hitler
and Mussolini that Franco will allow
German and italian engineers to con-
struct the necessary Notifications in
Morocco and in the Balearics for any
eventuality. There was no question
of surrendering to the two dictators
an inch Of Spanish territory; Franco
merely was TO place these important
strategic points at the disposal of his
friends. in case Of NEED.
Hitler is playing a desperate and
dangerous game. It is probable that
the internal situation is driving him
to it.
French Can Unite.
Der Fuehrer knows that despite the
lack OF cooperation between the
Frenchmen, Communists and Royalists
fight, there are two occasions when all
Frenchmen. Communists and royalists
alike, would answer the mobiliza ton
call: II France is invaded, and If
the North African possessions are
threatened
A large section of the French popu-
lation still considers itself safe be-
hind the billion dollar chain of forth
fications extending from Switzerland
to Belgium. But a direct threat to
the communications between France
and Morocco and Algiers is something
the most pacifistically inclined French
man will not tolerate. If Germany
enters Spanish Morocco with a large
force, there can be no doubt that
unless Hitler agrees to evacuate them
forthwith, he will provoke a war
with France. No excuse-such as pro-
Tossing merely to be doing police work
for Franco while his Moors and For
eign Legion are fighting in Spain, or
that these Germans merely are vol
unteers in Frances pay-will be ac-
eepted.
There is no doubt that the economic
situation Of the Reich is. to put it
mildly, precarious. The German peo-
pie still are willing to tighten their
belts and eat fish. sausage and butter
substitutes in order to provide the