Evening star., 1938-05-01
Decision to Halt Nazi Drive
Rests With France Alone
She Must Be Ready to Act Even Without Great
Britain's Aid, Says This Keen Observer
of European Politics.

stated that financial and economic sane
tions would be compulsorily put in force
against the aggressor by every member
state, while military sanctions were to be
left to the free judgment Of every cabinet.
The French government rightly assumed
that no clear line could be drawn between
the flnancial-economic and the military
sanctions, and that it therefore would
prove impossible for the British Empire to
avoid shouldering its full share of interna-
tional responsibilities
Unfortunately Article l6 has ceased to
be of any use in this respect; it is now in
full decay. AS result the only conceivable
move for France is to warn the British
government that, whatever happens, she
means to perform her obligations without
paying any heed to the ministerial delibera-
tions in Downing Street.
Such was the gist of the communication
forwarded to London by Mr.. Paul Boncour
on March is. supported, about a week
later, by an explanation of the strategic
problem involved, an explanation given
on the authority Of Gen. Gamelin, COM
mander in chief Of the French Armv. So
far, the German Army is nat in position
TO night Either in quantity or in quality,
the war material at its disposal does not
yet come up to the necessary standard.
Notwithstanding the Notifications in the
Rhineland. the French Army would be
able to tie up. in the west, large propor-
ton of the Reichswehr.
Meanwhile it is true the surplus of the
German forces would be directed toward
the East, and Czechoslovakia might have
to endure what Servia had to suffer be-
tween 1915 and 1918 But in the long run
the general blockade of the Hitleran Reich
established by the Western powers, by Rus
sia and the other states rallying to the
Anglo-French leadership, would operate
with overwhelming results and the fate of
Central Europe would be sealed by the
peace treaties which sooner or later would
have to be concluded.
France Must Go Forward
Such is the military background of
Frances foreign policy. But. despite Mr..
Chamberlain's statement of March "a and
OF the great advance it marks toward
Franco-British cooperation in Central
Europe, everything will vanish into thin
air if, at the critical moment the French
government does not gather enough cour-
age to go boldly forward, irrespective of the
British mood which inevitably will keep on
varying from week to week
g. There is possibility, and perhaps
more than a possibility, that Hitlerian
Germany will refrain from launching
direct attack upon Czechoslovakia. Hitler
may consider that a surer and less risky
mode Of conducting his offensive will be to
asphyxiate that country by practically cut
ting of her railway communications with
the outside world and bringing to bear
upon her the pressure of high customs
tariffs, The only counter measure that
would ward off that kind of blockade would
be to arrange for reconciliation and CO.
operation between Poland and Czecho-
slovakia
But in this connection, there is no great
encouragement to be had from the doings
of Col. Beck, last March, when he tried to
carry out the annexation of Lithuania and
to turn to Poland's selfish account the at
mosphere Of violence generated by the
suppression of Austria. Col. Beck was re-
strained from pushing his undertaking too
far by political foes at home and by the
exertion of French diplomacy. But the
incident shows him in the guise Of con-
firmed accomplice of pan-Germanism and,
to reduce him to impotence, the joint en-
deavors of France and Great Britain will
be needed, coupled with a fairly striking
demonstration of French and British
power and will to resist.
Rumania would have to play a part
But, as regards her, the prospects are bet
ter. Germany covets her oil, but it is up
to the Russian air forces to keep her in
order.
Capable Ministry Necessary.
No determined French policy can prove
possible, no Franco-Britis common policy
can develop without French Ministry
deserving of that name being at the helm
in Paris. A financial and social settlement
enabling the French Republic to regain
it vigor must be made. Without that nee
essay condition the economic and military
ascendency of the Hitlerian regime is likely
to overcast the Continent.
Formerly, whenever France was threat
ened by serious international danger, the
various political parties have joined to-
gether in national union ministry and
all political and social differences have been
easily disposed Of. 1t meant that all
Frenchmen, although they might quarrel
among themselves at home, were agreed in
the main on the foreign policy that was to
be followed until the international crisis
had passed.
Recently social disturbances have blinded
and still blind many to the seriousness of
the German and Italian menace. The re-
suit is that no ministry of national union
in which all parties from the Left to the
Right would joins likely to emerge in
the near future. The most that can be
expected is a Government Of Public Saliva
tion," to use the appellation coined during
the French revolution-that is, few men