Evening star., 1938-10-09
After Munich What?
Peace, Perhaps, In Our Time

1ue Wc6teTO WOllQ mas now e0CeleQ An
era Of peace. The temporary truce signed
at Versailles in 1919 has been replaced by
the treaty concluded in Munich on septem-
ber 20, 1888, by the leaders OF the two
dictatorships and the two principal de-
mocracies. Peace came so Unexpectedly
and with so much drama after q period Of
unparalleled tension that few people were
able to take stock Of its import
It was received with an inevitable emo
tionalism-the result Of three weeks Of
fear and terror when people throughout
Europe retired at night apprehensive that
within few hours they would be COM
PEELED to take shelter in bombproof dug
out: when every man, woman and child
carefully checked gas mask fitting before
going out in the morning; when Tommy.
don't forget your gas mask" replaced the
usual Tommy. have you got all your
books?"
The shock Of unexpected peace was SO
great that most people are doubtful whether
it will be lasting. Some asked: Now that
Hitler has taken all he wants in Czecho-
slovakia, what will he take next? What
will Mussolini ask for now?" Others are
certain that the world will henceforth be
aims and Frances turns will come next
Lets keep our powder dry" they say.
Peace Dove Never Settled.
These fears are natural. For 20 years
there has not been single month of actual
peace in the world. Every solemn treaty
and agreement negotiated during that time,
under the optimistic and idealistic prodding
of the United States, resulted in q clash
somewhere. It was not that the signatories
were actually dishonest. But the peace
guaranteeing pacts conceived in Washing
ton were founded on the maintenance Of
the principles of the monstrous Versailles
treaty. All limitation of arms conferences
and there have been four since 1921
failed because France or Great Britain or
the Little Entente made the clauses of the
Versailles treaty their gospel and would
discuss new situations in no light other
than the sacrosanct terms of 1919.
The so-called peace treaties signed since
1918 are dead and buried. All such agree
ments, pacts and other diplomatic instru-
ments have been replaced by the peace Of
Munich; peace made at the expense Of
the Czechoslovak republic. 1t is, of course,
hard for sovereign state to cede territories
materials which made her 4 first-class
industrial country. But when Czechoslo-
vakia surrendered the land inhabited by
Germans, Magyars and Poles, it gained
national unity. Czechoslovakia has ceased
to be geographical anomaly in Europe and
is now a nation Of 10000, 900 people of
the same race and political aspirations. It
! will take some time for its national economy
to be readjusted to the new conditions, but
If peace viii again set in motion the clogged
wheels Of international economic and fnan-
cial intercourse. there is no reason why ths
Central European republic should not be
as prosperous as Switzerland, which has
only 4,50o,0o0 inhabitants, or Denmark
with less than 1000 600.
Pacemaker for Peace.
Two pacts were signed at Munich. One
by the four powers, Great Britain, France.
Germany and Italy, for the settlement of
the Czechoslovak problem; the other be-
tween Great Britain and Germany affirm
ing that neither will ever fight against the
other The second agreement though purely
emotional in its present FORM Is important
as the pacemaker for an actual peace agree
ment among the principal European powers.
Now that the explosion which might
have rocked Europe's foundations and de-
stroyed modern civilization has been avoid
ed, the four major powers are busying
themselves with the exploitation of the
Czech sacrifice. They are preparing to
summon early next year a general settle
ment conference in which the United States
is expected to play q major role. Two prin-
cipall questions will be discussed, disarma-
ment and economic readjustment. Both
questions 60 hand in hand and cannot be
treated separately.
Germany and Italy have been concen-
trating on armaments and war for the last
four years. Though exact figures are not
available because of the camounaging in
regard to armament financing, both coun-
tries are believed to have spent no less than
$4,000, 100000 and to have absorbed all
their unemployed population during that
period. Great Britain and France have
spent about the same amount of money
and also have greatly reduced their unem-
ployed rolls as result Of the rearmament
program.
When swords are beaten into plow
great parties with the possible (possible, II
you please, even though not probable at
this writing) return Of the State to Repub-
lican control
Politically and economically, the State in