Evening star., 1938-08-26
Washington Observations
Analogies to 1914 Reveal Fascist Gernanys Present
Readiness for War.

supposed preoccupation with rebel
lious Ireland. encouraged Germany to
strike. Berlin now may even think
that revival Of the Chamberlain-Eden
feud in consequence OF the Prime Min
ister's rebun by Gen. Franco may
produce domestic absorption in London
akin to the Sim Fem threat Of 1914.
Hitler chose the second week Of March
TO seize Austria because q chronic po-
litical upheaval. which left France
temporarily without government,
convinced the Nazi high command
that 1t could move on Vienna with q
minimum Of risk. The Germans, in
the Bismarckian tradition, are ad-
dicted to coups when they think their
neighbors are immersed In diversions
Of their own.
Every American Of importance re-
turning from Europe nowadays Is
asked whether war Is imminent In
Europe. The man doesn't live, OF
course. who can answer that question
with assurance. Such q seer doesn't
even exist in the best-informed for
eign office, our own State Department
included. But certain imponderableS,
certain ineScapable implications and
certain historical-political backgrounds
Jointly and severally Justify definite
conclusions. Cd There is the general
purpose Of Germany-the avowed.
never repudiated program of conquest
set down in Hitler's "Mein Kampf."
(O There Is now the equally un.
abashed and specific pretext for &C.
tion-Nazi demands for an autono-
NOUS sudeten Germany in Csechoslo-
vakia, to be achieved either by Praha's
submission or as the booty OF war. (3)
6upplementing NaM purpose and pre-
text is the eloquent exhibition OF Ger
man power to enforce Hitler's will. In
the form Of the most colossal mobiliza-
ton undertaken by any nation In
peace-time history.
Hereinbefore was reference to Hit
ler's diabolical ability to ordain peace
or war. That theory must be SUP
plemented by the statement that
Great Britain has something to saw
about that, too. In the result of The
Runciman mission lies An important
key, perhaps the key, to the situation.
II Mr.. Chamberlain's olive branch
bearer can pave the way to q blood
less Sudeten-Czech settlement the
outlook for European appeasement will
brighten. But II Chamberlain. in a
realistic" spirit Of British Empire
safety first, seeks to coerce Benes and
Hodza into buying OF Germany by
dismembering their country, the
Czechs will prefer to fight. Their
army leaders have served formal notice
to that effect. Behind them ctand
Masaryk's united people-"nt, self
reliant and afraid Of nothing" as
Wickham Steed recently broadcast to
the United States. II, conversely, Mr..
Runciman proposes q settlement that
fails to satisfy the Nazis, the Germans
will be in a mood to hght. 1t would
need only the 1914 spark-Anglo-
French domestic preoccupation-to
light the FIRE Of Germany's Will to
war. Indications on this score are
due when Hitler lets Of steam al the
impending annual Nazi party congress
in Nuremberg. The massed swastikas
there will wave for the first time
against the formidable background of
Germapy's actually mobilized military
strength. Nuremberg in the days Just
ahead will be the pivot Of Europes
hopes and fears.
Germans. and NaN Germany is no
exception to the rule, respect force.
and nothing but force. That is why
President Roosevelts Canadian speech
and Secretary Hulls world broadcast,
plainly warning the dictatoIial powers
what to expect in certain crucial emer-
gencies, have given der Fuehrer. IN