The Washington times., 1938-03-15

chances are decidedly agalns
soon.
They kept quiet first because
It was none of their business,
and, second, because If they said
what was on their mind they
would not have helped those
whom they want to help.
What they seemed to think
about it, judging from several
off-the-record comments and
private discussions, is substan-
TALLY this:
Hitler again triumphed over
the Socalled major statesmen OF
England and France, not be-
cause he was so smart, but be-
cause he was alert to their tenn
poIary inefficiency.
The situation in Austria was
noS primarily what caused him
to move, in their opinion. He
could have bided his time, had
it been advisable.
But at that particular mo-
ment France was involved in a
governmental crisis and could
not even decide on a premier
and q government.
And, Of course, Mr.. Chamber"
lain had just let Eden go under
the delusion (his own, not
Eden's) that he could deal rea-
Sonably with the dictators. He
had just won a political appeal
to Parliament and to his people
for treating with the dictators,
thereby binding his own hands
with his own argument.
1t was the psychological
diplomatic moment for Hitler,
and he has never missed one.
A MOTHER unspoken supposi.
"A ton among those on high
here is that Hitler will go on to
restore the German empire in
due time and no one will stop
him from the outside.
Those who know as much as
there is to know here (which
seems to be surprisingly little)
expect the NaziS to be able to
make good their Austrian con-
quest. It will take time, but
there is little question about
their ability to do it. They have.
the guns.
After consolidating this gain,
there is likewise little question
but what Hitler will similarly
absorb CzechoSlovakia. This
may be more difficult because
the -GzechS may fight. " -~
HITLER is playing a game for
II which his adversaries have
not yet perfected a defense. The
only means of stopping force in
their minds is force and they do
not want to or cannot use it.
The average BritiSher and
Frenchman does not want to
fight to guarantee the inde-
pendence Of Austria, or even of
CzechoSloVakia, and Hitler
knows it. That is the basis of
his empire-restoration program.
But he may never again find
Britain and France Cor Russia)
so. easy. There are indications
here that the British and French
diplomats see they need pre-
parednesS, not only in arma-
ment but in diplomacy.
AS every one knows, every war
council in the world has worked
out defensive and offensive mill
tary plans to go into effect in a
moment. The early stages of the
World War were carried out on
such preconceived arrange
mentS.
In off-stage diplomatic discus
sionS here it has been sug-
geSted that what the British
and French diplomats need is a
series Of diplomatic plans to go
into effect at a moment. That
is, they must work out in ad-
vance counter moves of an eco
nomic and diplomatic nature
in conjunction as far as they
intend to go to furnish resist
ance or self-protection. They
cannot go on calling cabinet
meetings or trying to get a gov
eminent organized every time
the dictatorS move.
A IL this does not mean any
"A one here believes dictate
rial methods can be successful
in the long run. Force and
brutality cannot be maintained
indefinitely because it cannot
gain the support of the most
powerful weapon in the world
reason.
Where Hitler and the other
dictatorS are expected to be
stopped in the end is at home.
Hitler has strengthened his eco
nomic and financial positions
somewhat by annexing Austria.
He has just reappointed his only
financial authority, the reluc-
tant DR.. Schacht, as minister Of
the ReichSbank again. But eS-