Evening star., 1938-09-21
EDITORIALS HOLD
:WAR0NLYPUT OFF
Need for u. S. Neutrality Is
Emphasized in Comment
on Czech BETRAYAL

: A cross-section Of American editorial
opinion indicates the United States
has no reason to get involved in the
European crisis and at the same time
claims Great Britain and France have
betrayed Czechoslovakia in futile
sef1ort to avoid war, which, in the light
aof recent developments, has only been
postponed.
The New York Times, in calling the
situation . "Pandora's Box" says the
Czechs must either accept Hitler's
demands, amounting to national
suicide" or play for time in the hope
the German dictator will blunder and
crash.
1T Is already apparent that the
sscession Of the Sudeten region to Ger
many Is not the full price Of peace" !"
the Times said. 1T demonstrates the
pregnant fact that not a frontier In
Central Europe can now be considered
seither fixed or safe"
On the other hand, the New York
Herald Tribune utters amazement that
the two great democracies, command
q ing an overwhelming superiority OF
resources and Of armed power could
accept 50 total and 50 completely hu-
initiating a defeat as was recorded
in the reported conclusions reached in
the early hours Of yesterday morning" !"
Further, 'Humbly they not only laid
Czechoslovakia upon the altar; they
commanded her to commit suicide
there, so that they would be spared
the embarrassment Of denying their
: commitments-under treaty obliga-
tions." The democratic statesmen
. obeyed the autocratic commands of
8 one man, the paper said.
> Forces U. s. Isolation.
: In the light Of past Hitler promises,
: Britain and France cannot rely on his
4. utterances and perhaps it would be
: better for Czechoslovakia to fight
feeling that she can lose no more by
= war than she would by surrender" the
: New York Post pointed out.
In calling for American isolation,
, the Post pointed out the British and
French also went back on their prom
ises and "n this transcendental sell
out does not force the administration
at Washington to return to our tradi-
tional policy Of isolation, then Heaven
help us ALL" The Post claimed that
more than Czechoslovakia goes down
in this brutal bargain. Down also
60 the props of pretense at collective
security. Down, above all, 60 the
last flimsy excuses for American
meddling in European politics"
The World Telegram in New York
said we fought one World War for
. set OF principles and, unless we
are prepared to repeat the per-
formance, Americans should be chary
with our criticism Of Britain and
France" "' for If there Is
general European War, and it lasts
long enough, we will be sucked in."
War Seen End Of Czechoslovakia.
The Hearst Journal-American said
I'VE are not interested in protecting
that which is not ours. We are not
protecting Czechoslovakia, the Medi-
terranean, China. Spanish Loyalists'
or Rebels or any country in Europe
or Asia. We shall never trade our
birthright for another mess Of Europe"
A wise compromise is essential, the
Daily News pointed out, and said the
question is whether it will be q war
on the part of Great Britain and
France to force the Germanic element
to remain In Czech territory. IT
they should, Czechoslovakia will GER
tainly become the battlefield, and there
won't be any more Czechoslovakia, no
matter who wins the fight" Wise
craftsmanship is essentially compro-
mise, the paper commented.
Merely Postponement.
In not discussing the merits OF the
European situation, the Daily Mirror
said the American problem is to keep
out OF the mess not be victims of
propaganda, stand behind President
who has said Il hate war;" be neutral
and think neutrally.
In contrast the Philadelphia In
quirer said "the sickening backdown
Of Britain and France is an invitation
to Hitler to go on marching through
Europe" In a concise discourse on
the events abroad, the paper claimed
Hitler's ambition is limitless. With
each victory he and the Reich grow
stronger" 1t was pointed out that
ahead of Hitler ''lie Danzig, Memel,
and the fabulous wealth of the
~ &l1
democracies backing down, who will
stop Germany, the paper asks. The
sacrifice is postponement and
consciencelessness aggression now
enters new era"
George Washington's farewell ad-
dress has the aspect of gospel truth
and in the light of distrust and disgust
European developments have caused
here America must remain far outside
the deadly orbit of transatlantic
affairs" the Boston Herald comment
ed. international morality never
seemed to thoughtful Americans more
pitiably weak than at present, and
many will wonder whether it is about
to expire in a fantastic European
chaos"
Contempt for Britain, France.
Contempt for the British and French
is justified by the Richmond Times
Dispatch because there are some
things in this world worth fighting
for. Liberty is one of those things"
The World War dead as well as the
Czechs were betrayed when the cap
itulation to "gangster nations" was
made "in the pious hope that a mir
acle would happen" the Chattanooga
Times said, while the Birmingham
Age-Herald said the situation was not
without merit and that we should
wish it well. "It is better so, how
ever unfortunately, then another
World War" the Age-Herald claimed.
It would be less calling to the
civilized world" if the dismemberment
Of the Czech nation will assure peace
or set line Of demarcation beyond
which Germany may not 60, the New