Evening star., 1938-09-10
Anxious France.


our envoy at Berlin when the World
War broke out has just telegraphed a
well-known Washingtonian: THE situa-
ton Of 1914 is exactly paralleled. The
only thing that will prevent war is a
Arm declaration by Great Britain that if
France goes to war, Britain will Also
The vague remarks of Sir John Simon
Cat Lanark fortnight ago. are, am
sure, not taken in Germany as a serious
threat"
The opinion Of Ambassador Gerard,
who understands German diplomacy and
psychology as do few statesmen of
any country, appears to be anxiously
shared in Paris. France is urging the
British government forthwith to pro-
claim publicly that 1t will defend the
territorial integrity of Czechoslovakia.
The French are persuaded that nothing
less unequivocal can hold the Naz
war machine in leash
When the famous author OF MY Four
Years in Germany" voiced the view above
quoted, he could hardly have known that
at the identical moment M. Charles Cor
bin, French Ambassador at London, was
pleading with Downing Street to end
the indecision which seems to be para
Lying British policy. In that respect,
too, the situation Of 1914 is exactly
paralleled."
Twenty-four years ago it was Ambas-
sador Paul Cambon who was fguratively
on his knees before another vacillating
British cabinet, appealing for the En-
tente partners Intervention in the war
which Germany already had all but
launched. As M. Cambon argued with q
hesitant Asquith, 80 M. Corbin is now
reasoning with Z reluctant Chamberlain
In 1898, as in 1914, France finds herself,
too. dealing with an ally hamstrung by
divided counsels II Paris was in any
doubt that London is honeycombed with
influences which favor bending the knee
to the German 'aggressor, such uncer-
tainty would be obliterated by the in
credible proposal sprung only forty
eight hours ago by the London Times.
That recognized foreign office mouth
piece suggested that Czechoslovakia, for
the sake Of peace, might do well to
consider ceding her sudeten German
provinces to Hitler" without further ado.
1t Is we'll that Downing Street promptly
disavowed such 4 plan. Had it been
allowed to stand for a single day as an
"inspired" indication Of the price At
which Britain is ready to buy of the
NaM dogs Of war, 1t would have been "a
disgrace from which the good name Of
the country would never recover" to
quote the immortal words Of Sir Edward
Grey IN rejecting Bethmann Hollweg's
attempt to purchase British neutrality
by agreeing not to rape France, but re-
fusing to pledge the integrity Of her
colonies.
There is no warrant for rushing to the
conclusion that Britains delay in clar1-
tying her intentions betokens her pur-
pose not to intervene in Czechoslovakia
under any circumstances. Hitler, Rib
bentrop and Goebbels would be ex-
tremely rash to bank on any such pros
pect. The Times gaucherie is impor-
tant only because 1t proves, If proof were
needed, that Mr.. Chamberlain is plagued
by gravely divided counsels. There is
obviously one school that believes in
temporizing with the Germans. It reck-
ons that the longer war is held of, just
that long will there be possibility that
peace by hook or crook can be preserved.
II considers that the chance, however
slim, is worth taking, The wait and
see' school is obviously faced by ele-
ments which are convinced that the
Nazi regimes grim internal necessities
are driving Hitler inexorably to war.
They believe nothing is to be gained by
leaving him any longer in doubt that If
he marches against the Czechs, he will
automatically march against the British,
as well as the French and the Russians.
Men who know Germany as thorough
~ as Ambassador Gerard knows it un-
derstand fully that cryptographic hints
Of what John Bull might" do are mean
ingless to a people who believe only in
blood and iron and respect nothing else.
The French also know their Germany
through and through. That is why
Ambassador Corbin is begging Britain to
stop shadowboxing and strip for action
hAfore H. IL too late