Evening star., 1938-04-03
Rome, Berlin and Toxic
Plan Four Empire World
Under Dictators' Scheme, 1t Would Consist of
Nordic, Roman, Pacific and
American Realms

france. The Straits of Gibraltar will, after
Frances victory, no longer be under the
exclusive control Of Great Britain. Across
from the rock are Ceuta and Mellila,
which German-Italian experts are fever
ishly rebuilding into impregnable SUBJ
marine bases. The Alcuda Bay, north of
Palma, Majorca, has already been trans
formed into first-class naval and HYDRO
| plane station. The Balearic Islands. mid
way between North Africa and France,
are more of deterrent to French moves
against Italy than the presence of Fascist
divisions in the Alps. Sardinia, Sicily,
Panteleria and the Dodecanese Islands, to
say nothing Of the shelters for sub
marines in the Sidra Gulf, Cyrenaica, are
all so many bayonets at the backs Of
Great Britain and France Even British
supremacy in the Red Sea is threatened
now by the Italian naval base at Massaua,
Eritrea.
With Germany dominating the conti-
nent and Italy the Mediterranean, the en-
tire aspect of Europe Is bound to change
Only France and Great Britain could
have checked the onward march Of the
dictators, but neither dared. France. de-
spite the critical international situation,
has not been able to pull herself together
and end the domestic strife which has been
Gripping her since the end OF the World
War. Even in the tragic hour when Austria
was swallowed by Germany for the greater
glory of Pan-Germansn, Premier Blum
oL1 %
national concentration.
The trade unions continue, despite the
fact that German and Italian factories
work "a hours day, to demand their 40
hours week, and France must order her
airplanes in foreign countries. The output
of the French industry has not exceeded
81 planes month against the 1894 produced
by each Of the dictatorial powers The
same situation applies to tanks, artillery
and other war paraphernalia France is
far behind in her war production, despite
her free access to raw materials and her
large gold reserves and the French general
staff urges caution every time the French
government is inclined to get rash.
Great Britain is in better position as
ldi do Tile pIOOuCIlOIl OI war Uerldl Is
concerned. But Great Britain is not only
European power but also Pacific power
And there rises probably the greatest men
ace to the empire-the japanese expansion.
Hitler and Mussolini decided to sacrifice
their interests in the Far East in order
to reap the important political advantages
which alliance with Japan could afford
them.
Java and Sumatra
The Japanese Empire today stretches
from the Siberian border to the Yanetze
River Before long the southern bank of
the river will be under their control. But
the Japanese plans, which are as clear and
frank as Hitler's, do not stop at the con-
quest Of China. China lacks oil. which
can be provided by Java and Sun1atra. the
important Dutch colonies, which cannot
be protected by Holland alone AS long
as Britain is not involved in a conflagra-
ton on the other side of the Pacific, the
assumption in Toxic is that she would
defend those two Dutch isles. Tfev are
too close to Australia to permit Great
Britain to look with indifference on their
conquest.
London realizes that as soon as Great
Britain becomes involved in a European
conflict the Japanese fleet weuld descend
upon the Dutch East Indies, and despite
the hasty defense preparations made by
the Dutch government during the last two
years. they will be easy conquests.
Hence, Chamberlain's realistic" policy
toward the present European problems,
and his discreet but persistent question to
washington: What will you do in such an
eVentuallty?' A shrug of the shoulders is
the only answer he is able to obtain. Once
IN while there are Delphic statements
from President Roosevelt and Secretary
Hull dealing with the grave concern" of
the United States over the international
law breakers. But all these offer little en-
couragement to the European democracies.
The French and the British governments
can do no more than try to DELAY the
totalltarlan plans for revamping the map
OF the world The dictators ultimatum is
simple: Either you bow before our de-
termination and thus preserve peace in
the world or else you accept our challenge
and fight"
consolation prize is offered to the
American people: Remain outside the
present troubles and nobody will interfere
with you 1t may be that the time will
come when the British possessions in the
Pacific will find it convenient to Join YOU
and thus you will be able to form with us
the fourth empire. That your political
philosophy is different from ours is i'm
material-do not get in our way and we
shall not bother you"
Naturally these are not the exact words
by the totalitarian diplomats but they
represent the essence of present conversa-
tions. The administration gestures Of SYM
pathy for the victims of the dictators are
gauged by the foreign offices in Berlin and
in Rome at their exact value: Words,
pious expressions and fine sentiments which
will never be translated into action, unless
Americas territorial sovereignty Is chal-
lenged." Since that is not likely to happen
for long time, nothing appears to pre-
vent Rome, Berlin and Toxic from realiz-
ing what once used to be called an i'm
possible dream-the formation of the
Nordic, the Roman and the Pacific empires.
Copyright, 1e3s)