The Kennewick courier-reporter and the White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1938-1939, 1938-10-13
ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS

ECONOMIC HIGHL1GHTS
World War German song and
slogan was Deutschland Uber
Allies" Today, in the opinion Of
many foreign correspondents, the
Third Reich could be more or less
justifiably placarded with signs
proudly reading Hitler Uber Eur
opa." Six years ago Hitler was gen.
orally regarded as a relatively
harmless sword weilder who had
small chance of getting anywhere
with the astounding program laid
down in Mein Kampf-the book he
wrote in prison. Today Hitler DOM
mates the continent to perhaps a
greater degree than any man since
Napoleon, and a remarkable num-
Der of the detectives detailed in
Mein Kampf have been achieved.
Furthermore, Hitler's bloodless
attainment of Sudetan Czechoslo-
vakia is certainly one of the great
est triumphs of what might be
termed militant diplomacy, in the
history of the modern world. No
military authority thinks that Ger
many could have won had England
and France held to their treaties
and gone to war. But Hitler, in
terpreters close to the situation say,
determined upon a great gamble.
He knew that France and England
dreaded war, and were Mortified at
the prospect of what a great air at
tack would do to their cities. He
knew that large segment of their
populations agreed with the Da-
ladier- Chamberlain policy of peace
at-any-price, and that those who
wanted to take stronger line, such
as Eden, were apparently in the
minority. And so he came logically
to the conclusion that If he stuck
to his demands without compro-
mise, the French and British would
talk great deal, would make
threats-but also. whe n the dead
line neared, would capitulate. The
great gamblue won. The Fueher
had guessed right.
It Is Of the highest significance
that at the final meeting between
Hitler, his ally, Mussolini. Dalai
der and Chamberlain, Germany got
practically everything she demand
ed-including demands that, few
days earlier, England and France
had said they would not grant. The
French and British ministers left
Munich after approving plan that
gave Germany some Of the richest
parts OF Czechoslovakia and left the
little republic virtually indefensible
from military point Of view. And
the next day Hitler, with his conf
dence at its apex, said that he would
support the demands Of Hungary
and Poland for other Czech areas
and there was no important pro-
test.
What has been the response to
all this? There is one school in this
country which praises the French
British concessions. But 1t IS q
small school, and the great bulk Of
commentators and newspapers have
been bitter In their denunciation Of
what they term "sell-out" to the
dictators that will inevitably breed
more serious troubles. later on.
Washington correspondents say that
no one high in our state department
believese Hitler's statement that the
Sudeten Is the latest demand he.
win make in Europe. He has said
the same thing before during the
Saar basin controversy, for instance
and has always broken his word.
The general expert feeling is that
this Is just the beginning that he
will let a certain amount of time
elapse, and then turn his attention
to other desired areas, such as the
rich Ukraine. and possibly, Alsaace-
Lorraine. with its great deposits of
coal and iron-two essential mater
talS the Reich almost entirely lacks
at present.
Even in Europe, there is an in
fluential bloc of opinion that thinks
the surrender was dlshonorable and
suicidal. Russia's able Litvinoff has
been cynical in denunciation, and
has as much as said that the u. S.
s. r. can no longer have any faith
In the treaties and agreements of
the European democracies. Navy
Minister Duff Cooper has resigned
from the British cabinet in pro-
test against Chamberlain. There is
some responsible comment to the eff
feet that Chamberlain may yet be
forced to resign, in favor of Chur-
chill or Eden. @e
Typical French comment came
from Leon Blum, ex-premier, who
said, Il feel myself divided between
cowardly relief and my sense of
shame" Almost everyone involved
feels this. They did not want war,
and they are happy it has been
averted-but this happiness is great
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