Evening star., 1938-03-12
BRITAIN DECEIVED,
PERT|NAX THINKS
Powers Must Face Result
of HitIer-Duce Deal,
Writer Says.
By PERTINAX.

BY PERTINAX.
PARIS, March IL by Wneless)--
A).-Independ Austria has
come to an end Henceforth, the little
Danubian republic must be regarded
as being under Hitler's direct rule and
even Hungary can hardly avoid being
drawn into National-Socialist Gar
many's orbit. That huge change has
been brought to completion within less
than IL hours through a set of ulti-
matumS Of increasing vehemence bold
ly backed by an ominous concentration
of RelchsWehr troops on the Bavarian
frontier
1t must now be obvious to all that
the national states in central-eastern
Europe will speedily have to come to
terms with Germany unless they know
for certain that their resistance will be
supported by France and England, and
to start with, that those two countries
will be willing to wage war rather
than allow Czechoslovakias political
independence and territorial integrity
to be impaired.
The Nazi government in Vienna is
likely to NEEDLE very soon with the
quarrel that continuously goes on be-
tween the Prague government and the
Sudeten Germans. Therefore, the
Paris and London governments are
bound to reach decision very shortly.
Fall Began With Eden Loss.
Austria's fate was really sealed on
February l8 when Prime Minister Nev-
lille Chamberlain resolved to part with
his foreign secretary, Anthony Eden,
and initiate negotiations with both
Hitler and Mussolini. On the previous
day, Eden had agreed on his own be-
half to proposal forwarded from
Paris that both the French and Brit
ish governments should jointly declare
to Berlin that they would resist all
violations of international treaties in
central Europe.
This meant that France was ready to
60 to any length to save Austria pro-
vlded Britain would move along par
allel lines But Chamberlain came
to the conclusion that Eden had gone
too far in his adhesion to French pol
icy. and, finally, the French proposal
was summarily rejected in London.
This was the reason why Yvon Del
bos, French foreign minister, when
he addressed the Chamber of Deputies
on February 26, had to be studiously
vague about Austria while he declared
at the same time that France would
faithfully fulfill her military obliga-
tons toward Czechoslovakia. That
very day Hitler and his advisers were
practically told they would be left at
liberty to deal with Austria as they
liked.
Seeks to Jar Chamberlain.
Yesterday afternoon Charles Cor
bin, French Ambassador to London,
was instructed to make a new attempt
to raise Chamberlain and the new
British foreign secretary. Lord Halifax
from their apathy. He telephoned
Paris shortly after o'clock that he
had been wholly unsuccessful, that
Chamberlain and Lord Halifax had
done no more than demonstrate with
Joachim Won Ribbentrop, the German
foreign minister, on moral grounds
during the lunch they had with him,
and that they did not believe a Joint
Franco-British declaration to Berlin
would serve any useful purpose since
they could not see their way toAssume
any direct responsibility.
1t was only at 9 pm. that the prime
minister and the foreign secretary sud-
denly realized the ominous conse-
quences that would result from the
happenings in Vienna and suddenly
reversed their position. doing at the
last minute of the eleventh hour what
Eden would have done much earlier
The energetic British step
taken toward Berlin last night comes
too late to check German aggression
against Austria. but in official circles
here is interpreted to imply that Great
BRITAIN henceforth will stand by
France so far as defense of Czecho-
slovakia is concerned.
Chamberlain's Belief Tested.
Chamberlain, when he made up his
mind to open negotiations with italy
on February 18, acted upon the belief
that Mussolini had been caught un-
aware by the Berchtesgaden agree
ment and was inclined to enlist the
good will of the western powers in or
der to keep within bounds Germanic
expansion on the Danube. That be-
lief of Chamberlain has been put to
the test of hard facts and has proved
futile.
1t is only to be inferred now that
Italy has approved of Germany's ac-
ton against Austria and expects that
stronger Germany, both in military
and in an economic sense, will help
her obtain compensation in the Medi- |
terranean for the loss of influence she
has suffered in central Europe. /
HenceforWard. a Germanic Mittel- |
Europa will quickly be put in shape if
both the Paris and London govern |
ments don't take practical measures to
make effective Frances commitments
toward Prague The western powers
are not at parting of the wavs.
VepSrisht. 1888. by the North American |
Newspaper Alliance. 1nc.)