Evening star., 1938-09-18
Europe Looking Toward u. S.,
Held Czech>Nazi Crisis Kew
Paris and London, and Even Berlin, Think America
Will Be Embroiled if War Breaks Out
Prague's Decision Causes Concern
Bv Constantine Brown.

the most stubborn people in Europe. TheS
realize that war with Germany means tho
destruction OF everything they have built
since 1920. They know that their main
supporters, the French and the British,
have no means Of coming directly to their
rescue, and that the Little Entente states
would give them no more than their heart
felt sympathy and best wishes for victory.
Both Rumania and Yugoslavia maintain
that the provisions Of the covenant of their
alliance provide for reciprocal military sup,
port only in the event of Hapsburg resto-
ration on the Austrian or Hungarian
throne. And the Bucharest and Belgrade
governments mean to keep to the strict in.
depreciation Of that covenant. at least until
1t Is evident on which side victory Is likely
to fall.
Serbia's Fate Remembered.
But, they remember that Serbia became
an Austrian province during the World
War and Belgium was under the heel of
the Germans until the German armies
were defeated in 1918 And the Prague
government is willing to risk the fate of
Serbia and Belgium In the hope that the
results will be the same as they were after
the World War-a larger and more power
full Belgium and Serbia.
As a matter Of fact, the French genera!
staff has intimated to their Prague col
leagues that the battle for Czechoslovakia
independence will be fought most likely
Spain, in the Mediterranean, in the Pacif.
and In the North Sea. The results how
ever, will be the same. On the victory ct
the British and the French over the total-
tartan states will depend the fate of Czecho-
slovakia and Europe.
As things stand at the time this article
Is written, war seems inevitable. Ger
many demands the annexation Of the
Sudeten land to the Reich. Czechoslovakia
would rather perish as state than accept
Der Fuehrer's demands. 1t is no longer a
question Of prestige or desire to maintain
the territorial integrity Of the country
which is influencing the Prague government
to resist. Their economic existence will be
jeopardized should the Sudeten land be-
come q part Of the Reich. The most i'm
portant industries and the majority Of the
raw materials which make Czechoslovakia
one Of the leading industrial countries of
Europe are located in the region Hitler
wishes to add to his empire. The famous
Skoda works at Pilsen, which lies on the
confines of Sudeten land. would cease to
exist If they did not have free access to
the raw materials Of the Sudeten territory.
The important glass works at Karlsbad
would become German. Such annexation
would mean slow death for Czechoslovakia.
She would become, in a short tine . de-
pendency Of the Reich without having even
the advantages Of being a part Of the eco
nomic unit of the empire.
1t is, of course, still possible that some
solution will be found by the British gov
eminent to avert a cataclysm. But the
chances appear slim. If Germany really
means to annex her nationals who livr
under the Czechoslovak flags she will NEE.
a fierce armed opposition from the Czecl.
and the Slovaks. Seven hundred thousard
men, well armed and equipped, are deter
mined to fight to the last man.
Italian Neutrality Forecast False.
1t is foregone conclusion that this army
cannot resist indefinitely the German on
slaught. But they can stand In Hitler's
path long enough to mobilize public opin-
ion in Great Britain, and many believe in
the United States too, to make things diff
hcult for the Reich.
The optimistic forecast that Italy will
remain neutral in such an emergency and
then sell to the highest bidder has proved
false. There are definite indications from
Rome that though II Duce will remain
neutral while Germany and Czechoslovakia
are at each others throats, he will move
his entire force in the event France and
Great Britain join in the affray As
matter of fact, the French military experts
have already suggested that the first steps
toward helping Czechoslovakia would be to
dispose Of Franco and his Italian volun-
teers.
Some 10000 French troops have been
quietly moved toward the Pyrenees-the
only front on which the French can take
an effective offensive. With the assistance
of the Loyalists and tanks. airplanes and
other modern war paraphernelia, the
French figure that they could throw Franco
back to the Spanish Morocco in less than
two months. A complete victory in Spain
would open up communications between
North Africa and the European mainland
even If the neutral status of Tangiers has
to be overlooked "for the duration Of the
war;
Whatever the strategy Of future opera
tions may be, the whole of Europe is anx-
iously looking toward the United States
Britain, more than France, feels that the
key to the whole situation, victory or de-
feat, lies in Washington. On Americas
willingness to cooperate hinges everything
While the Presidents and Secretary Hulls
speeches have been variously interpreted,
Washington officially maintains . sphinx
like attitude. But the cold fact Is that
Paris and London are more hopeful than in
the past that the action Of 1917 will be re-
peated, though probably in Q different
manner Even Berlin believes that the
United States will fnd her way into an
other conflagration.
Prague's decision to fight If Hitler carries
through his plans to annex Sudeten terri
tory has naturally caused much concern in
Washington. The timing Of such an action
is bad We are on the eve of an election in
November and the hands Of the admins
frofioso tiod fn tho y,o1ifico1 vi t,,dAe