Evening star., 1938-09-19
While Rome Burns.


Kings and Queens come and 90 in
Great Britain, but one reign goes on, in
trenched in tradition and the nations
unfailing refuge in times of stress-the
regime of compromise It holds full
sway at this fateful hour, as Europe
waits to learn on what terms Prime Min
lister Chamberlain and Chancellor Hitler
propose to avert armed conflict over
Czechoslovakia-if they do.
In situation wholly charged with the
unpredictable, a single gleam of posi-
tiveness penetrates the fog of hesitation
and uncertainty In which diplomacy
still gropes helplessly. That ray of light
is cast by President Benes' determina-
ton, come what may from London, Paris
or Berchtesgaden this week, to f1ght-to
fight alone, If necessary, but to fight, in
any and all circumstances, for the pres
ervation of Czechoslovakia's independ-
ence and territorial integrity. Any
Hitler Observation-Disclosures deal for a
postponed war in the guise of peace
carries no appeal for the Benes govern
ment, If 1t provide for annexation of
the Sudeten provinces, for plebiscite,
for German "protectorate," or for any
other method of destroying the Czech
state. AS certain as anything can be in
the mercurial conditions underlying the
Central European crisis, that is the posi-
ton, as further discussion between
Chamberlain and der Fuehrer ap-
proaches.
While Americans contemplate, not
without misgivings, circumstantial re-
ports from London narrating the So
called "three-way division" in the British
cabinet (he Prime Minister favoring
cession of part of the Sudeten district;
one group of ministers opposing the
surrender of Czechs and non-Nazi Ger
mans in those regions to Hitler; and
still a third group wanting no commit
ments for Britain beyond the Rhine'D
1t was heartening to find in the Sunday
Star a revelation of the British spirit,
which has hitherto not been vividly re-
fected in this country. 1t comes from
an uncommonly authentic source-Mr.
Tom Clarke, former editor of the liberal
London NeWs-Chronicle and close friend
of David Lloyd George. In gripping
language Mr.. Clarke suggests that it is
daWnlng on even peace-at-any-pr
Britons that more is at stake for them
than the fate of Czechoslovakia. That
potent figure known as the man in the
street has come at length to realize, Mr..
Clarke indicates, that behind all this
showing and pushing stands the figure
of Hitler, and he has left us under no
illusion as to his aims and intentions"
Continuing in this strain, the London
journalist points out:
Der Fuehrer's writings and his ac-
tions are open to the world. His pro-
fessed god has been force. His an
nounced program is being carried out
to the letter. This Czechoslovak affair
Is only another step in a grandiose
scheme for German expansion through
Central and Southeastern Europe to
the Near East. Czechoslovakia stands
in the way. and must be removed.
After that there are other countries
on the list. And after that, what of
FTance-of Spain-eventually of Brit
ain? I hesitate to add-What of the
United States?
To American notice there has come no
a, clearer epitome of what is hidden be-
hind the Nazi mask in Czechoslovakia
Nor have we on this side of the Atlantic
had from any quarter more searching
analysis of what Britons really feel at
the moment than these additional reflec-
tions of Mr.. Clarke:
have been brought up in liberal
democracy. Personal freedom is the
salt of my existence. A world under
Nazi rule would be death of the spirit,
and I would rather don my uniform
again than suffer without struggle
the loss of individual liberty which I
feel has been the fate of many of my
German friends. And, of course, If
Hitler gets away with it this time, we
are big step nearer to that disaster.
am for peace at almost any price
but not at that price; and I am conf
dent that most of the British, in
Britain and In the Dominions, share
that view.
No Perfldious Albion turks in such
sentiments.