Evening star., 1938-06-26
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

AOUHIS36 Out VI t4AC WY
M until next year, members wonder
whether Secretary Hull will not
have q better opportunity to
make . more determined stand in the field
Of international affairs. The activities Of
the State Department have been curtailed
by the secretary's fears Of blasts from
Capitol Hill. This is one Of the reasons
why 50 much secret diplomacy has been
going on since the beginning Of the year,
why the Secretary Of State and his repre-
sentatives abroad frequently had to work
under cover why Mr.. Hull and his aides
made long academic speeches which could
be understood only by those who could read
between the lines.
The administration Is frankly pessimistic
over the world situation. Even the pro-
fessional optimistic ambassadors and min
isters stationed in European capitals report
confidentially to the Secretary Of State that
they don't know when things will start
popping, but they have the feeling of living
on q volcano.
It is felt that the critical period will not
be 1910. 1t is now. To all who can see
with steady eyes what forces are in open
action this conclusion should be as plain
at last as it is to those who are familiar
with what is going on below the surface.
There are three questions together
Spain, China and Czechoslovakia And
better. They are three riddles of the
Sphynx. Each Of them would be menacing
enough by itself. They are far more 80
taken together
Question Of Czechoslovakia.
1t was hoped for while that each Of
them might be solved separately. The
Spanish civil war broke in the summer Of
1885; while the struggle was in full swing
Japan invaded China In the summer Of
1887. Now in the summer Of 1885, while
the two former conflicts continue unabated,
the question of Czechoslovakia has been
raised in its full political gravity.
Central Europe continues to be the center
OF disturbance. The municipal elections in
Czechoslovakia are over. They have helped
Henlein, that is to say Hitler more than
diplomats had forecast. Latest reports re-
ceived in Washington reveal that Hitler,
despite the military display on the Czecho-
slovak border in May, did not intend to put
into force an aggressive policy toward that
Central European republic. The German
dictator and his advisers had decided to
await the result Of the elections. Germany
wants to remain within the frame of inter-
national law, but her intention Is to swallow
up another Germanic section Of Europe.
The June election has given Henlein 90 per
cent Of the Sudeten votes. He has become
the unchallenged leader of the 3,5oo,0o0
Germans who live under the Czechoslovak
nag. Heretofore he was considered merely
head Of q political faction in Czechoslo-
vakia. Now he can talk with the authority
of the leader Of the most important minor
ity living under Prague rule. And he is ex-
pected to talk a-plenty in the coming
weeks.
President Benes will, under these new
conditions, grant wide concessions to the
C0echoslovak minorities. His government
is now preparing sweeping reforms, grant,
ing a measure of autonomy to the Sudeten
Germans. They will have their own local
administration, increased educational free
dom, and German will be the official Ian
guage in the section of Czechoslovakia where
these people reside as French, Italian or
German is ofncially accepted in switzer-
land. But these concessions far from
satisfy Herr Henlein. He maintains that
his people have a right to voice in
Czechoslovakas foreign affairs. The su-
deten Germans cannot reconcile themselves
to the fact that the country in which they
live has q military alliance with the U. S.
s. r. which is necessarily intended to
work against the German Reich. Hence
Herr Henlein will demand that the Czecho-
slovak government abandon foreign en-
tanglements which might eventually force
it, citizens to fight against friendly neigh
bors."
Henlein's Argument.
Henleins argument. at Berlin's instiga-
ton, Is as follows: # it Is true that Czecho-
slovakia is q kind Of Switzerland, nation
composed Of q number OF minorities, it
Is necessary that the central government
follow q policy satisfactory to all the COM
ponent parts Of the republic. Switzerland
Is on equally friendly terms with Italy.
France and Germany and would not dream
Of seeking an alliance with, say, Russia
and Spain, which are not its neighbors.
A strictly neutral foreign policy is an essen
tial condition mixed country like Czecho-
slovakia or Switzerland. Hence, the al
liances signed by the Prague government
with Paris and Moscow are incompatible
with the character of the state. Henlein
further points out that even Belgium, in
order to satisfy the Germanic Flamands
and the Latin Wallons, was compelled to
adopt . policy of no entanglements.
The political, administrative and cultural
privileges sought by the Sudeten Germans
no longer than . year ago are now of
secondary importance because it is known
that the Prague government will grant
them. The principal questions Is whether
President Benes will accept the demand
that C1echoslovakia give up all dangerous
alliances" and shift her foreign policies
towards . close understanding with her
immediate neighbors, Germany, Poland
and Hungary.
1T Is inconceivable," said Henlein to .
visiting American, that we should accept
. position wherein the country under whose
nag we are living could give all possible
facilities to the Soviet government to attack
Germany from Czechoslovakia. know
that the Czech airdromes are ready to pro-
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