Evening star., 1938-10-30

A. p. and Wide World Photos.
the fashion Of Roman Emperor in Ger
many, the italian radio station at Bari
intensified its anti-British broadcasts to
the Arabs. Italian agents stirred Arab
patriots to frenzy. provoking hostility
against Britain and her mandate in Pal
estine. Riots grew into warfare. The
fruits OF that conflict are just beginning
to ripen. and the British public is learn
ing that what it believed was bands Of
Arab hoodlums has become an Arab army.
Knew Hitler Would Get Way.
This was the position when Hitler spoke
at Nurnberg in September.
As early as last April, however. men,
bers of the British cabinet had admitted
privately that Hitler would get his Sudeten
Germans. They believed there was a
measure of justice in his claims. but even
more they believed a German attack on
the Czechs could not be countered by
Britain and France
Chamberlain's speeches with reference
to Anglo-French cooperation in a mill
tary emergency were vague. He hinted,
who spoke on behalf of the cabinet in
Scotland, was even more so. Sir John,
a master of keeping away from the point
at issue, exceeded himself. So much so
that even the London newspapers suggested
that Hitler could not possibly know of
the resolute determination of England to
keep her bargain with France, and sug-
{AI otrA hat N,x,$
clear.
Chamberlain's decision to 60 to Berch-
tesgaden was his own. The British public
believed he was carrying a warning to
the German leader-not a gift. Before
his departure he consulted with his mill
tary advisers, who placed before him again
the true state of England's defenses. Their
reports were most pessimistic.
1t is worth noting that similar advice
was being given Hitler by his army chiefs
His generalstaff assured him there was
every chance Of crushing defeat from the
allies If he persisted in his adventure.
So Chamberlain set out to give Hitler
C7echoslovakia, determined on one thing
The transaction must be orderly and busi-
nesslike-an arrangement between business
men. No fighting-above all, no fighting.
Travelled in American Plane.
On his journey he advertised to the Ger
mans the state Of his own aviation industry
by travelling in an American plane.
He was cordially received at Hitler's
mountain retreat. They lunched together
and spoke of all manner of things. When
1t was understood that Chamberlain wanted
peace more than freedom for the Czechs
his German hosts let their hospitality COM
pletely envelop their distinguished guest
Hitler even told him that as he was such
an old man he would stretch q point and
meet him half way at their next converse
ton, which was thereupon arranged for
Godesburg the following week.
At this point Lord Halifax, foreign min
lister, sent for Jan Masaryk, Czechoslo-
vakian Minister to London. He informed
Masaryk that Chamberlain had instructed
him to give assurances to the Czech people
that their country was in no danger, Hitler
wanted only his Sudeten Germans; nothing
more The Czechs would lose little in the
long run. Chamberlain wanted Masaryk
and the Prague government to know that
he had Hitlers personal word and that
he had faith in that word.
Masaryk, when he was able to speak, re-
piled that such q story might do for public
consumption, but given him under such
circumstances, it only proved that all was
lost.
Immediately the Tory press began to
(see WALLENsTEIN, Psge C-3.)