Evening star., 1938-08-28

- tary Hull's momentous speeches last
week on Americas position in inter-
national affairs had primary OBJ
ject--to give food for thought to Berlin
during the extensive autumn war games.
Both were intended more for foreign
ears than for hCme consumption. Neither
the President nor his Secretary Of State
said anything new. Mr.. Hull reiterated
that we want to live in a world where in
ternational obligations are honored. 1t was
the same theme he used in August, 1887,
when he enunciated Americas political
credo in II paragraphs.
Mr.. Roosevelt reassured the Canadians
that this country would not tolerate an
invasion Of their territory. For the time
being no Canadian is worried about the
Fascist-Nazi ogre descending upon his
country as Hitler descended on Austria or
Mussolini on Ethiopia.
President Roosevelt and Secretary Hull
made these speeches with a definite aim
Both contained warning to the totali-
tartan states not to run wild and precipitate
world conflagration; in such an eventuality
they would have to reckon with the might
of the United States. To keep the other side
worried and guessing is a wise policy which
has long been the favorite of the State De-
partment.
Desperation Signal Given.
Before the two speeches were made
alarming reports had been received from
the principal listening posts in Europe
Berlin, Paris and London. Mr. Bullitt has
been keeping in close touch with the French
government. Neither Premier Daladier nor
Foreign Minister Bonnet has any secrets
from our Paris Ambassador And Bullitt
reported to his chiefs in Washington that
the French government considered the Cen
trail European situation only little short of
desperate. The dates fixed by political
prophets August Is and September Is, for
the German invasion Of Czechoslovakia
were, OF course, incorrect. August Is had
been selected because on that day the Ger
man Army maneuvers were scheduled to
start September Is was given as an AL
ternate" because the Nuremberg Nazi Party
Convention comes to an end on that day,
usually with a flamboyant speech by Herr
Hitler. This time, it was rumored, words
would be accompanied by deeds.
The French government, Of course, did
not pay much attention to those given
dates. Wars nowadays do not start with
diplomatic precision But. nonetheless, the
French general staff had received definite
information that the large scale eoncen-
tration Of German troops-shrouded with
unprecedented secrecy even for the Nazi
government-might be the signal for the
beginning OF another European confiagra-
ton.
The German Army maneuvers this year
are extraordinary. They started as regional
affairs of brigade and divisional exercises
and have expanded to army corps and
armies. The end Of the war games is
scheduled for September Is, when there
will be grand military display But in
the meantime it is being noted that as
soon as the local exercises end and more
important army corps maneuvers are de-
veloped, the field is shifted from North
western and Central Germany toward the
south and east That is to say, toward
the Czechoslovak and Polish borders. Since
relations between the Reich and Poland are
cordial, the implication Is that the Reich
high command is moving the troops south
wards for any eventuality. While it is ad-
mitted in Paris and in London that Hitler
is not seeking an armed conflict and would
prefer to encroach peacefully upon Czecho-
slovakia's sovereignty. the presence of half
million or more fully equipped men on
each side of the Sudeten border might pre-
cipitate clash with international conse-
quences.
Warning Declared Timely.
A speech containing implications for
those who can read between the lines
especially between the lines of the Neutral
ity Act which gives the President power to
play favorites in the event of an actually
declared war-was deemed timely by AM