The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1938-09-15
Nctors OF World War
Battle NeuU Conflict
Two Big Men Of History, Prime Minister Chamberlain
Of Great Britain, Chancellor Hitler of Germany,
Face Each Other Today

to today's meeting. Time was when
single monarch could gamble with
the fate Of nation when one gen.
eral could chance the future Of mil.
lions on a single throw Of the dice.
A word from Napoleon and all Eu-
rope trembled; but today the entire
world TREMENDOUSLY awaits the words
uttered high on the ObersalzberR.
In this modern world few men
could hope to escape the disaster
OF another world war.
The fear that another such con.
fiict already is upon Europe sent
Neville Chamberlain to Berchtes-
gaden. The horrible reality Of that
fear was emphasized by the fact
that Chamberlain, the most power.
full figure In the British empire, re.
quested the meeting.
The house OF the Hitler Chamber
lain meeting fits snugly into the
Bavarian hillsides. It's peaked roof
pokes up through dark pine trees.
Shutters are bright against low
white walls. Here Hitler retires
when affairs Of state are heaviest.
Here the master of the third reich
makes his most important decisions
often In solitude.
No two men could be more unlike
than Hitler and Chamberlain, Hit.
Ter emerged from the World War q
corporal with a valise full OF clothes
and an intense but unformulated
nationalistic philosophy. He became
q painter Of houses and pictures, a
desperate student OF national psy-
chology. He became convinced that
the mass Of the people" Is not re-
ceptive to "half.meaSures" and
weakness" Since that day he has
acted with a brashness that sur.
prised, shocked and eventually ter.
rified Europe's elder statesmen. To
q shattered people he offered a con.
crete and dramatic program for es-
tablishing the reich as q great
power. Step by step he destroyed
the Versailles treaty, nilitarized the
Rhineland and seized Austria. But
Germany necessarily faced toward
the east and the war-made state
OF Czechoslovakia stood as O care.
fully planned barrier TO German
dominance In central Europe.
Thus, In the Sudeten mountain
frontier Of the Czech state, the rul.
ers Of Europe were brought to q de-
cision-whether the reich might be-
come supreme: whether Britain and
France would be reduced to second.
airy powers.
The difficulties Of this decision
are complicated by Hitler's unpre-
dictable personal characteristics. He
has said that God told him what to
do He has become furious IN the
presence OF statesmen; found his
greatest comfort In the company
Of his chef.
Chamberlain is almost the exact
opposite. Tall and slim with Q
streak Of grey In his hair, he can
hardly be imagined except In morn
Ing coat and striped trousers.
He Is British big business" son
OF great imperialist, q tory to the
tips OF his polished boots. When
the World War ended he was 40
years old and his political career
was hardly begun. He Is not the
political type. yet no British states
man since the war has faced de.
cisions so vital to the existence OF
the empire. He has handled the
empires business as he did his own
interests In Birmingham-cautious-
", In the manner OF @ people which
has always "muddied through"
Today, above Berchtesgaden, and
far above the graves Of countless
thousands who fell In battle 20 years
ago, the world watches the meeting
Of q man who speaks for an EN-.
pire on which the sun never sets
and q man who demands O place
In the sun.
On their words, history will write
the fate Of another generation
bread or blood; war or peace.