Evening star., 1938-09-16
"Peace With Honor"


British statemanship in Victorian his
tory when he returned from the Con-
gress of Berlin in 1878, bringing back
peace with honor" To reap kindred
laurels is presumably the purpose, if not
the confident hope, of Neville Chamber
IAN, who conferred at Berchtesgaden
yesterday with Adolf Hitler on the most
critically momentous occasion in our
time. for On the outcome of their con-
1abulation hangs peace or war in Europe.
The Prime Minister is returning to Lon
don today to consult with his cabinet.
Both in Great Britain and in Germany
hermetlcal secrecy is observed as to the
nature Of their cattle trade" as the
Germans dub such dealings as the Nazi
chieftain and his British visitor initiated
over tea and dinner at Hitler's Alpine
chalet in the Bavarian highlands. Gilt
tering prizes beckon at the end of the
Prime Minister'S journey. Admittedly
embarked upon gamble, but one that
Will rebound to his eternal credit, the
sage of Birmingham stands to win in
either OF two ways. He would come home
laurel-crowned if he brought only an
agreement that banished immediate
war. Should Hitler prove uncompromis-
Ing, decline concessions and send Cham
berlain away empty-handed, the honors
would still rest with the Briton, for it
would indubitably make him the revered
leader OF an empire united to the high
est degree to resist an intransigent and
aggressive Germany.
Mr.. Chamberlain runs but one risk in
haggling with Hitler. 1t is grave risk
If, for the sake of peace which would
TN reality be only a postponed war, the
Prime Minister were to sell the pass
to consent to the immolation of Czecho-
slovakia on the altar of the Nazis' lust
to overrun Central Europe-he would
undoubtedly stake his political existence
and the life Of his government. Bis
marck said the Balkans were not worth
the bones Of Pomeranian grenadier.
The average Britisher probably feels
that all Czechoslovakia is not worth the
life of British Tommie. But national
honor, pride and prestige are still things
for which Englishman, Scot and Celt
are prepared to fight. If the price Of
peace with Hitler is the sacrifice of those
British values and virtues, it may be
taken as automatic that Mr.. Chamber
lain will not be permitted to pay it. He
would bring back peace with dishonor,
If he settled with Germany on such
basis.
So everything depends on whether
Hitler demands his Czechoslovak pound
of flesh and whether Britain and France,
by yielding it, are ready to sponsor the
demolition of Central Europe's one re-
manning democratic bastion. If they
are unwilling to tolerate the destruction
OF Czechoslovakia, the Nazis may be
expected to trot out some other way to
buy them off, Hitler is aware that the
British and the French are for peace
at almost any price. OF all the negotia-
tors he is the only one uninhibited by
pacific scruples. That gives him big
advantage. Sooner or later the time
will come-if it has not come already
when Chamberlain will want to know
what, other than the Czechoslovak
quarry, will appease the Nazis? Will
they suggest that Tanganyika Territory,
formerly German East Africa, might fill
the bill, because it would place the Reich
athwart Rritain's imperial airway across
Africa to the east, enabling Hitler, be-
sides to menace Mussolini in nearby
Ethiopia rs well as at the Brenner, and
also giving Goerings air force easy ac-
cess to the Suez Canal? Will der Fuehrer
perhaps propose that British acqui-
escence in Germanys foothold in North
ern Spain and Morocco, resultant from
her alliance with Franco, might be an
agreeable quid pro quo for giving up"
Czechoslovakia, because such way out
would both make the Nazis Mediter-
ranean power and give them new front
against France?
Such alternatives would hoist Cham
berlain to the horns of grave dilemma.
One thing he can never have out of mind
at Berchtesgaden is that while he is
Prime Minister Of Right government,
1t Is the government of country
heavily, if not preponderantly, Leftist
in sentiment. The Labor-Liberal op-
position has amply indicated its hos
tility to any bargain with Hitler smell
ing Of blackmail.
A New sMavOr.,