Evening star., 1938-07-03
By JOHN EVANS.

PARIS Correspondence of the As
sociated Press) France is braced for
war with Germany this summer, but
thinks it can be avoided.
The government believes the armed
might of France and Great Britain
will make Reichsfuehrer Adolf Hitler
cautious in his efforts to protect" the
3,5o0,oo0 Germanic minority Of
Czechoslovakia.
Political leaders and the man in the
street generally agree war or the
threat of war alone can halt Hitler
and they say "if it must be war, we
might as we'll have it now"
France feels strong because Great
Britain has shown her determination
to help. The announced plan of King
George vi and Queen Elizabeth to
visit France has been taken as signifi-
cant warning to Germany that the
two great powers will block Germany's
supposed "Drang mach Osten" (march
to the East) through Europe.
The visit-originally scheduled to
start June %. anniversary of Arch
duke Ferdinand's assassination at
Serajevo-has ben postponed until
July 10 because of the recent death of
the Queens mother.
No Enthusiasm for War.
Publicly and privately, the govern
ment and people talk of war, but show
no great enthusiasm for it.
Many people regard war-if it comes
as a defense of France because if
Germany takes Czechoslovakia, they
have come to believe Hitler will domi-
nate Europe and eventually might
make war Of revenge upon France
for the humiliation and defeat Of
1914-lB.
Political leaders admit readily that
farmers and villagers who are half of
France have lacked any desire to
march into Germany to save Czecho-
slovakia.
These leaders say that spirit is
changing.
They assert all France will realize
shortly that defense Of Czechoslovakia
is defense of France They contend
German absorption" of Czechoslo-
vakia Gas Austria was absorbed) would
ruin French prestige, cost France all
her friends and make her a second
rate power.
However reluctant people might be
to 60 to war again, most leaders count
on French patriotism to flame forth
again if there came another war
against the old Germany enemy.
The winds Of time have blown away
the thin layer Of dust that buried the
hatchet at the 1918 Versailles Peace
Conference.
Several factors make immediate war
uncertain If not unlikely.
1-Czechoslovakia may settle ner
difficult minority problem.
2-Hitler may bide his time peace
fully, thinking Czechoslovakia will
come to him as Austria did.
.3-Even If Germany should invade
Czechoslovakia, France might refrain
from war as remedy worse than the
disease.
The situation Is even more COM
plicated than appears because neither
France nor Britain is Fundamentally
united in . plan for war. People in
both countries disagree on the need to
halt Hitler.
Some think war isn't worth while.
They argue that Hitler has obtained
everything peacefully and may con-
tinue 50. II he uses violence to en-
large Germany. they say, he win gath
er into Greater Germany conquered
and rebellious people who will weaken
Germany and eventually the Nazi
dream Of empire would melt before re-
| alities.
Realities Listed.
Here are some of those srealities''
as the French see them:
1-Czechoslovakia is reckoned q
strong fighting machine with. good
troops. planes, the great Skoda muni-
ton plant and natural mountainous
defenses. Many military men say
Csechoslovakia could defend herself
for weeks until aid could come.