The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-04

Diplomats always have figured that if they could get by the first two weeks in August they would be fairly safe as far as war is concerned for another year.
 But now 1t begins to look as if the Naxis might not let the August deadline pass. All the confidential reports received here indicate that they are preparing for . real showdown,
 Here are some of the secret de- velopments:-
 Austrian and German busi- nessmen have been unable to get freight ears in the area around the Czech border. All cars have been taken over by the military because of the heavy shipment of supplies.
 UndeYgrOund airdromes are being built at terrific speed along the Czech border, especial ly on the Austrian side closest to Prague.
 German motorized transport, including heavy artillery, tanks, and anti-aircraft batteries, has been concentrated in Austria near the Czech border.
 The Maxi Secret Council is reported to have picked the date of August lS for the putsch into CzechOslovakia.
 Whether or not this latter re- port is accurate, obviously can- not be confirmed. But this much is definite. News of the date is believed by the British Foreign Oface, and is one reason for Lord Runciman's visit to Prague and the sudden British desire to put the quietus on Czechoslovakia.
 British diplomacy today, works on the theory of surrender any thing that belongs to somebody else-but don't risk . fight.
 Maxi Showdown
 All this Nazi activity may not mean war. But 1t does mean that Hitler is determined to get what he wants in Czechoslovakia. He would much rather get it without war. in fact he might run in the other direction if he knew in ad- vance that war was certain.
 But he has seen the British yield so many times, that he is gambling on their yielding again. Probably that is one reason why he has let the British know about his troops along the Czech border.
 Another important factor which disturbs the British is the real topic of conversation between Lord Halifax and Captain Wcidemann, Hitler's aide, just before King George and Queen Elizabeth went to Paris.
 News reports didn't get it at the time, but what Weidemann proposed was that Germany give up completely her idea of colonies and receive in turn a free hand to "colonize" Central Europe Czechoslovakia, Rumania. Jugo- slavia, Hungary and the Ukraine. Hitter didn't propose to conquer these countries, Weidemann said. merely bring them under the Nazi sphere of influence.
 Lord Halifax made no commit- ments. But the Weidemann mes- sage was discussed very seriously in Paris.
 All of these developments mean that you may want to hold your hat before the next two weeks have passed in Europe.
 NOTE-Japanese belIigerency against Russia may be an i'm. portant tip regarding war or probability. Pressed as she is by her war with China, Japan
 would not risk . major con. flagration with Russia unless she had some word from Ger
 many, her ally, that the Soviet might soon be kept busy on an- other front.
 No Gift Shop
 REC Chairman Jesse Jones never tires of boasting about how much his agency is doing to help business men. Only 8 few days ago he took bankers to task sev- erely for not being more open handed with business loans.
 Shortly after this lecture an attorney presented . loan appli- cation of . Pennsylvania concern to one of Jesse's assistats. This mastermind looked over the docu- ment perfunctorily, then tossed 1t back with the sarcastic remark:
 Say, what do you people think we are running here, a gift shop?"
 Mutual Admirers
 One of the bitterest confirma- tion battles in the history of the Senate was the fight over Presi- dent Hoover's appointment of Judge John J. Parker to the Su- preme court. The able North Carolinian was turned down by a narrow margin and a week later Justice Owen J. Roberts got the prize without a contest. 0EE TAH OErnnn