Evening star., 1938-09-25
World, Not Merely Czechs,
Seen at the Brink of War
Observer Believes That British and French Fight
for Peace Is Based on Fear of Wars Aftermath,
Even More Than War Itself.
By Constantine Brown.


people who live under the old system. And
officially the Moscow government gave up
further attempts. 1t decided to join the
other families Of nations and promised to
refrain from upsetting the established
economic and social system.
After War-the Deluge.
But that does not mean that the Third
International has capitulated. The leaders
of communism still cherish the hope that
some day, somehow, the workers of the
world will unite and overthrow the capi-
talistic governments. As long as the world
is more or less at peace this is not likely
to happen. But should another world
confiagration occur, the seeds of revolu-
ton so carefully sown by the agents Of
the Third International will produce the
desired fruit. The hardships, the blood
shed and the destruction which a new
general war will cause are beyond out
conception 1t is within the realm of pos
sibilities that after few months Of war.
fare in which civilian populations will
suffer as much as the men at the front,
fighters and civilian populations will turn
against their leaders and there will be
repetition of the chaotic conditions which
existed in Europe during the Thirty YeaI
religious wars. Communism thrives on dis
content and human misery. This is the chief
reason why Moscow's war machinery will be
set in motion and sent to rescue Czechoslo.
vakia as soon as the first German units
cross the Czechoslovak boundary.
1t is this knowledge more than the fear
of risking a show of strength with the
totalitarian states which is worrying Cham
berlain and Bonnet. 1t is this argument
which has been forcefully set before the
French and the British statesmen by Italian
and German diplomats. And when the
former asked. whether the totalitarian
states were not taking the same chance the
retort was: Not as much as you. The
democracies still live under the old free
system. Berlin and Rome assert The die
tatorships have made there adjustments
and introduced state socialism, which is a
safety valve against communism. There is
no rugged individualism, the target of the
Communists, in Germany and Italy Hitler
and Mussolini have been viewing the situ-
alton from the angle of what Moscow
might do in the event of a general war.
The democracies, Berlin and Rome think,
are more unprepared to face that danger
than they are unequipped to meet Germany
and italy on the battlefield.
Those Who Favor War.
This may explain why the more radical
elements in France and Great Britain are
in favor Of WARMTH all its horrows, anc
why the conservatives and the business men
are against it. The picture was different in
1914, when the French and British Social
lists opposed war to the bitter end.
The White House and the State Depart
ment realize that nothing, not even an ag-
gressive attitude on the part Of the United
States Government, can change Hitler's de-
termination to dominate Czechoslovakia
They know the fears-military and political
of the European democratic governments
and the reasons why, at the eleventh hour,
they are endeavoring to avoid a general
conflagration; they know that Czechoslo-
vakia would rather perish and let the rest
of Europe perish than yield all to Hitler.
And finally, they know what the conse-
quences of Russia's inevitable intervention
will be.
But President Roosevelt feels that the
country today, from the point of view OF
experience and understanding of conditions
abroad, is better able to resist propaganda
directed to drag us into another inter.
national confiagration than We were dur
ing the last war
There is no doubt that the sympathies
of the administration in general and OF
the President in particular are 100 per
cent with the French and the British gov
ernments. In the event that those two
countries are forced into another war,
everything conceivable will be done by the
administration to facilitate their victory.
We have neutrality law which neither its
makers nor the administration like. But
within the frame of that law much can be
done-unofhcially-to help the two Eu-
ropean democracies without appearing to
do so.
Should War Be Declared.
AS soon as war is declared the neutrality
law will be proclaimed and all shipments
of arms and ammunition to the belligerents
will be suspended. That will not be
hardship on the warning nations because
they least need actual war equipment.
Britain needs airplanes-they are still using
machines with linen wings-as does France.
But there is nothing in our neutrality law
to prevent American airplane factories from
establishing branches in Canada. Neither
are the neutrality provisions mandatory on
the export of raw materials. The Presi-
dent has the power to decide what supplies
can and cannot be exported in the event
of war. Important war supplies could
reach Canada and be shipped thence as
q manufactured product to Great Britain
or any other country. The President can
use discretionary powers in applying the
cash and carry provisions of the neutrality
law. But even if cash were required Of
the foreign purchaser Great Britain and
France have, at the present time. approxi-
mately $4,000 100000 call money, short and
long term securities which could be con-
verted into cash.
Intend to Avoid War.
The rumors and talk that Mr.. Roosevelt
wants to involve this country in war be.
cause of personal political reasons or be-
cause he believes that we should fight oncs
more ito make the world safe for democ-
racy" can be dismissed as irresponsible and
with no foundation other than fertile imagi-