Evening star., 1938-09-04

Europe
There have been no recent indications
that the Polish government intends to
take sides. But during the May scare
Poland left no illusion as to her position in
the event Of an uprising of the minorities
in Czechoslovakia. Her definite hostility
to Moscow ranges the Warsaw government
on the side Of Berlin If to this is added
the practical offer from Berlin that the
10000 Poles who live in the Teschen region
would be allowed to rejoin their mother
land, it is not difficult to forecast that Po-
land Is at best an unfriendly neutral.
In the south Hungary, whatever official
spokesmen may say, has aligned herself
definitely with Germany. Czechoslovakia
is particularly vulnerable from that side
because in her efforts to resist German
aggression her general staff has concen-
trated on the fortifcation of the northern
and western borders. This lack of foresight
is easily understandable since the Trianon
agreement, which forebade Hungary to have
an army, was in existence until last week
Furthermore, although it was known that
Hungary was quietly rearming, Czechoslo-
vakia relied on the other members Of the
Little Entente, Rumania and Yugoslavia
to prevent an aggression from the south
Now the governments of both these coun-
tries tell Prague that their alliance re-
quiring an intervention against Hungary
can be applied only, in the event of the
Hapsburg family attempting to regain the
Hungarian throne. Otto of Hapsburg has
been declared by Hitler public enemy No
and his chances of returning either to Hun
gary or Germany are nil
No Common Frontier.
To resist this ring Of steel Tightening
round Czechoslovakia on all sides. the
Prague government can turn only to
France, the Union Soviet Socialist Repub-
lies and Great Britain. With none of her
allies has Czechoslovakia common frontier.
Russia would have to overcome the re-
Sistance Of Poland and Rumania to send
her troops to the rescue; France would
have to force the almost lmpregnable Rhine
Notifications and attack Germany to re-
heVe the pressure on the CZechoslovak
front. Air forces from Russia could, of
course, fly over by violating the neutrality
of Rumania and Poland
In appraising this situation Great Britain
has come to the conclusion that any con-
flict in Central Europe means inevitably a
general confagration. London can un-
doubtedly restrain the hand Of the French
for while at least The present French
government will do nothing without Britain's
consent. But nobody can restrain Russia
Neither London nor Paris harbors any IL
lusions as to what the Red colossus will do
The situation has been summed up by
one of the western ambassadors to the
Union Soviet Socialist Republics in the
following crisp sentence: Russia will act
and not talk" Moscow intends to issue no
warnings. Should the Czech army be at
odds with Germany or any of her allies,
there are enough airplanes concentrated in
the Ukraine to overcome any opposition from
those alleged neutrals and reach the battle
field within few hours Russia is having
no war games this year but there are i'm
portant troop concentrations in the Ukraine
The extent of these concentrations is un-
Il
ing value of the Russian army. But there
are enough men and mechanical forces in
the region neighboring Rumania and Po-
land to make responsible diplomats in West
ern Europe realize that an outbreak in
CZechoSlovakia cannot be compared with
the Spanish civil war or with the invasion
OF Ethiopia. 1t would mean a direct and
% hatu
major powers clash in which Great
Britain must necessarily become involved.
When Sir Neville Henderson pointed out
to Baron Ribbentrop the immense RESPONSE
bility the third Reich was assuming if it
unieashed its war dogs, the German foreign
secretary replied that Britain's accusing
hnger should be pointed at CzechosIovakia
he reviewed the conversations which have
taken place since June Is between the
Czechoslovak government and Konrad Hen
leln and expressed surprise that the British
government did not realize the immense
patience which has been displayed during
this crisis by Reichsfuehrer Hitler and the
German people. Except for some trivial
concessions, President Benes has not found
II convenient to take into consideration a
single OF the major demands of the German
mlnorities. said Ribbentrop Consequently
the foreign secretary continued. the onus
OF Whatever may happen in Europe must
rest on the shoulders of those who have
stubbornly refused to step down from the
clouds and face realities.
Britain is getting ready for war. Her
policy of temporizing has proved a failure
But While she is making the necessary
preparations to face the direct" situation
Lord Runciman will continue the attempt
to Wrest the maximum concessions from
Prague in desperate effort to stave Off
the inevitable
(Copyright, 1881