Evening star., 1938-02-22
Democracy Abdicates.

London, where a Windsor is enthroned
but compromise is king, is the scene of
another abdication. This time no mere
monarch steps down. Something more
imposing than an ermined f1gurehead
yields its place. Democracy has quit.
AS freedom shrieked when Kosciuszko
fell," it cries in new anguish over the
throwing of Anthony Eden to the Fascist
wolves.
1t is thirty-two years since Germany
last decreed the dismissal of a foreign
minister who dared to thwart her pur-
poses. In 1905 the Kaiser, irked by
Theophile Delcasses success in pledging
British support OF France against Ger
man pretensions in Morocco, demanded
his removal from the Quai d'Orsay,
menacing Paris with war if he were re-
tanned. Even though she was assured
flag and sacrificed the ablest diplomat
who had served her since Talleyrand.
History repeats itself. Anthony Eden,
most fortnight foreign secretary Down.
ing Street has known. certainly since Sir
Edward Grey, rejected imperious de-
mands by Hitler and Mussolini, respec-
lively, for Anglo-German and Anglo
Italian deals, which required Great
Britain to settle on their terms or invite
war. The Reich's Jesse James price was
British acquiescence in the destruction
of Austria's independence and in plans
for Notification of other Central Eu-
ropean territory, like Sudeten Czecho-
slovakia, inhabited by people of Ger
manic blood. London's refusal to COM
pound this felony, it was implied, would
provoke vigorous pressing of the Reich's
claims for restoration of colonies. Der
Fuehrer on Sunday made no bones on
this score or Of his resolve to forge the
Nazi war machine into an instrument
capable Of effectuating his ambitions.
Italy the while is high-pressuring
Britain for an immediate accord, COM
pretending Spain, the Mediterranean
and Ethiopia. Mr.. Eden not only stood
out against precipitate submission to
blackmail by Mussolini, but insisted that
there be no truck with him, even under
the threat of war, until he agreed to
withdraw Italian troops from Spain and
abandon anti-British maneuvers in the
Mediterranean and the Near East
These are the external facets of the
crisis which led Mr.. Eden to quit office
rather than sanction the governments
policy of scuttle and run in the teeth Of
bullying and bluf11ng Berlin Rome
axis The cheers that shook the House
OF Commons yesterday, when the re-
tiring young statesman explained how
he placed British honor above pacifist
expediency, betoken that Prime Minis
ter Chamberlains program Of spineless
opportunism by no means commands
universal support in either Parliament
or the country.
1t is dificult to exaggerate the imph-
cations of British readiness to deal with
the continental relationships In advance
Of undertakings on their part looking to
European appeasement and collective Sc
curity-acceptance Of orderly interna-
tional processes, announcement of ag-
gression, and agreement to discuss dis
armament. With France torn by DO
litical and economic strife, Britain re-
mains the one Old World power capable
OF repelling Fascist pretensions. Once a
perfdious Albion bends the knee to
them, Europe is at their mercy.
AS the shadows of the swastika and
the fasces lengthen across a cowed
continent it behooves the Americas to
ponder well whether they may not be
the next to be asked to surrender and
disgorge. On this side OF the Atlantic
democracy may yet be called upon to
make it's last stand. No Neville Cham
berlain, at least, seems disposed to OBJ
viate such possibility. History will
brand him as the shopkeeper statesman
who sold the pass.