Evening star., 1938-08-31
Drift to War,

The momentum which events of the
past two days have given to the drift to-
ward war Ia Europe is indeed frighten-
ing, even to those who have seen po-
litical crises come and 60. At no time
during the past twepty years, not during
the Manchurian, the Ethiopian, the
Spanish or the Austrian affairs, has
peace hung by such a slender thread
Already the test of power is under
way. Not actual hostilities, of course,
but that boastful show of armed
strength which is one of the preludes
to conflict.
1t is war" of maneuvers. Germany
is an armed fortress with more than a
million men ready to strike; Eastern
France is the scene OF similar prepara-
tions, with troops being moved into
strategic positions, particularly near the
junction of the French, German and
Swiss borders, reinforced with large
bodies Of reserves; the British fleet is
Haunting its strength in the North Sea,
and the German fleet steams out for a
counter demonstration.
These things resemble nothing so much
as the threatening gestures OF small
boys, but how disastrous are the conse-
quences when nations resort to such
tactics!
But however dark the picture, the road
to peace has not yet been barricaded.
Each of the powers has paths OF re-
treat, but when the time comes when
none wishes to use them, war becomes
inevitable as the only means of settling
differences. That moment arrives when
the first blow is struck. The first is now
poised; the question is will 1t fall?
Germany has taken her stand that
the Sudeten Germans must be given au-
tonomy.. That demand has been so
thoroughly drilled into the Third Reich
that any recession from 1t might have
disastrous consequences for the dictator
ship, which requires ever new victories
abroad to preserve its prestige. The
Czechs courageously avow that they will
fight before seeing their country di-
vded, and though yielding more and
more to Nazi demands refuse to take the
step that will give them autonomy.
The latest plan of the Praha govern
ment, reported to be for some form Of
cantonization is being submitted to the
Sudetens. Will this be the end of It's
concessions? If So Adolf Hitler will be
under the immediate necessity Of decid-
ing whether to accept or intervene.
1t is difficult to see how Praha can go
much beyond cantonization without
granting outright autonomy. But even
that could scarcely be deemed fnal
settlement, for it would almost certainly
create within the Czech republic to-
talitarian regime subservient to for
eign state, thus providing Germany
with the pretext for demanding outright
annexation of the Sudetic region later
The turning point is near. Whether
1t will be toward war or peace is en-
tirely in the hands Of Germany and her
Fuehrer. If it is war, 1t will be by Ger
manys sudden attack on Czechoslovakia,
setting in motion the machinery Of the
French. Russian and Little Entente al
liances, which in turn will involve Great
Britain If it is peace, 1t will be by the
willingness of Germany to withdraw
from the Sudeten dispute, permitting
1t to be handled in equitable fashion by
Praha alone
Far more than the interests of few
European peoples are at stake, for it is
doubtful whether the Western civilization
could Withstand the shock of another
holocaust In the background stands
the specter of a newer and younger
world force, arising perhaps out of the
awakening East.