Evening star., 1938-05-01

cent plebiscite, declared in Coblenz on
April /:
Through the annexation of Austria,
Adolf Hitler has, in fact, won the World
War"
A fairly bombastic assertion, but there is
an element of truth in it. The annexation
OF Austria was indeed the first large-scale
territorial aggression in Europe since the
end OF the war and, if such tendencies 20
unchecked, it bids fair to herald other
changes in the map of Europe as created
In 1918-19
Germanic Mitteleuropa, which was pro-
Visionally constituted during the conflict
and crumbled down on the battlefield un-
der the impact of the allied and associated
powers, is again taking shape before our
eyes VIII the French government and the
french people have the nerve to interfere
before it is too late-that u.s. before Czecho-
slovakia, which holds the key position not
only geographically. but politically as well,
is done for? Or will Paris stick to an at
titude of passive toleration? In the long
run, the decision to halt the Nazi drive will
".
what has happened in Austria was fully
expected. Toward the end of January the
French Ambassador in Berlin. M. Fran
co.'s Poncet, Clearly announced what was
TO come and even accurately guessed at
what date the development would take
place; the month of March He also, bv the
way, foretold that, simultaneously an ener-
ka
ana Italy to achieve complete victory in
spain under the banner of Gen. Franco.
French Had Taken Action,
Even before this warning reached it. the
French cabinet had taken action Mr.
Eden, on his return from Geneva, stopped
IN Paris to confer with M. Chautemps and
M. Deloos. They told him that diplomatic
steps ought to be taken at once if Austria
were not to 60 to the dogs. They also de-
clared that France even would not recoiI
from making war if Great Britain were
ready to join her.
The two French officials begged Mr.
Eden to realize what was at stake and n
enllghten Mr.. Neville Chamberlain and
LORD Halifax. But their efforts came to
naught although Mr.. Eden himself nrob-
ably had become personally converted IN
the drastic course contemplated bv the
Paris cabinet. Five days after the Berch-
tesgaden meeting, Mr.. Eden approved on
MS own behalf, "a French suggestion that
Franco-British declaration should he
delivered in Berlin to the effect that anv
infringement upon international treaties
IN Central Europe would be strenuously
resisted by the Western powers. But. on
February 20 he had to give up the foreign
ONCE, and it may be suspected that the
polcy to be inforced toward Germany
caused his resignation as much as the
problem of Anglo-Italian relations.
The end of the story need not be told
again. 1t is in everybodys mind.
On the whole, it can be said that Aus
trla was lost because France did not dare
tell the British government that she would
have to act, even singlehanded. and leave
1t no alternative except to follow suit or to
remain Indifferent while her ally was en-
gagged in deadly struggle on the Conti-
nent.
Czech Case Is Different.
In actual fact, however, it was quite inn
possible for the French government to fol-
low such a line of conduct in this par
ticular case. France was not bound by
any specific commitment to Austria. But
the case of Czechoslovakia belong in an
other category. The French Republic is
pledged to the hilt to lend military assist
aLce to her, not only if she becomes the
victim of an unprovoked aggression but also
II she has to cope with an internal rising
OF the Sudeten Germans backed by vol
unteers" rushing in from Germany in ac-
cordance with the Spanish precedent, a
contingency which was provided for in the
calks that the Czechoslovakian Foreign
Minister, DR.. Kamil Krofta, had, last Oc-
sober, with Messrs. Chautemps, Blum and
Delbos.
To understand fully the various implca-
tions Of the state Of affairs the French
government has to face, the following
points must be kept in mind:
/, No serious resistance will be opposed
to pan-Germanist expansion by the vari-
Gus states in Eastern and Central Europe
unless the French nation not only is found
ready to fight with a good prospect of sue
cess when the day Of judgment comes, but
also, beforehand, dispels all lingering
doubts about its own resolve to resort to
arms.
II, on Frances part, is discerned the
hesitation and vacillation which, since the
critical year of 1885, has been such dis
tinctive feature Of French policy, all the
governments concerned will reach the con-
clucion that the game Is up and that the
only thing to do is to come to terms with
the power that already seemingly enjoys
military preponderance-that is, Germany.
As early as January, 1884, the Polish gov
ernment, under the leadership Of Col. Beck.
showed the other countries in that part of
the continent how to initiate q policy Of
reinsurance with the Hitlerian Reich-in
short, how to sit on the fence. In Yugo-
slavia, and then in Rumania, Col. Beck has
found close imitators. And it goes without
saying that the downfall Of Austria has
made that policy even more attractive than
formerly
French policy has been to reunite and COM
bine In a single coherent system Frances
cooperation with Great Britain (Which
was practically made q real alliance In
March. 1895. when the Rhineland pact Of
Locarno came TO an abrupt end and the
sDeeife ulpdeea ctyen at yarions tifnes IN