Evening star., 1938-05-15
More Realism at London.

kept the whirligig of European politics
gyrating during the past three mo-
mentous months, none outstrips in
bizarre brazenness the visit to London Of
Konrad Henlein, Hitler's viceroy in
Czechoslovakia. The spectacle of cit
izen of that sovereign republic dickering
privately with the British government
and opposition political leaders about
ways and means for handing over the
Sudeten German provinces to the Reich
is enough to make the gods weep, if they
have any tears left after the demands
made upon their lachrymose ducts by
late developments in a world where
realism" now rules and democracy is
at discount.
Henlein spent Friday and Saturday in
the British metropolis. His sojourn was
ostensibly for private purposes Its ac-
tual object, of course, was to spy out the
land on Hitlers behalf and to ascertain
to what extent the Nazis next burglari-
Gus move in Central Europe would be
aided and abetted by Prime Minister
Chamberlain. That the leader of the
Czechoslovak Nazis did not go to Eng
land without advance negotiations with
Downing Street goes without saying It
fits in with the rest of this Arabian
Nights tale of international legerdemain,
to call 1t by a polite name, to learn that
before confabulating with Sir Robert
Vanslttart, permanent secretary of the
foreign office, Henlein conferred with
Winston Churchill. that chameleon of
the British Parliament, who hitherto
has espoused the "encirclement" of Nazi
Germany by the League of Nations, and
with Sir Archibald Sinclair, leader of the
liberal wing of the opposition. Later,
Der Fuehrer's envoy hobnobbed in the
aristocratic dining room of Claridge's
with group of labor party leaders.
All this can only mean that Mr..
Chamberlain is setting the stage for a
united front in the House Of Commons
in favor of an Anglo German deal with
Hitler on the lines of the trade with
Mussolini. Details are already br,uted
about Fleet Street and Westminster as
to the nature of the bargain with Berlin.
chamberlain is said to be persuaded that
the peace OF Europe now depends upon
an "appeasement' of Germany's demand
for free hand in Czechoslovakia. To
that end the Birmingham "realist" is
represented as ready to go whole-hog in
keeping the Fuehrer of the Wilhelm
strasse in leash. The prime minister not
only favors letting the Reich annex the
Sudeten rim of Czechoslovakia, whereby
the rest Of the republic would shrink into
German vassalage, but also gratifying
the Naz clamor for restoration of COL
onies in Africa. Mr.. Chamberlain con-
tinues to rate as wholly antipathetic to
the Hitler regime as such, but with no
less fervor to hold that his supreme duty
is to preserve peace for Britain and for
Europe.
1t IS sad outlook, this readiness for
peace at any price on a Thames which
once would have been set aflre by the
perf1dious proposals the Tory government
is prepared to entertain and promote.
Peace is precious and paramount con-
sideration for any government in Europe,
especially one within a couple of hours
reach of Nazi bombing aircraft. But 1t
might occur even to realists in interna-
tional politics that, whetted by such
bloodless blackmail victories as the Nazis
are winning. they are not likely to stop at
Czechoslovakia or colonies. They are
sure to conceive new appetites, sooner or
later. Goering has just suggested that
the United States goaded Brazil into
checking Nazi impudence on the Amazon.
Is it not within the realm of the think
able that as a reprisal for that or for our
refusal to sell helium, or for our initia-
tive IN facilitating the emigration of op-
pressed Germans and Austrians of mon
Aryan' faith, Hitler may present i'm
perious claims at Washington?
Whether he does or not, the hour is
rapidly approaching when some remain
ing democracy with intestinal investiture
should tell the bullies of Berlin what the
French told them Of Vord,r +r,o,+u