The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1938-06-23

Entered as Second Class matter,
ECONOMIC H1GHLIGHTs
~Twenty years after the war 70
make the world safe for democra-
cy,' wrote Leland Stowe. New
York Tribune foreign correspondent,
recently. 1854 ooo.00 out Of Europe's
$50, 900. 900 people are living under
relationships in IL European corn-
tries and democracy is banished
from four-fifth of continental Eur
ope." ....
Sir Philip Gibbs, the well-known
English novelist and journalist, has
said: 1.-THE nations are arming again.
Men who remember the last war
seem to be preparing for the next.
Nothing was learned, nothing was
settled. by the monstrous struggle"
For the past few weeks, since the
German Czech border crisis was
averted, there has been quiet abroad.
But 1t has been an exceeding ON
nous quiet. The problems that con-
front Europe grow steadily verse,
not better. The armament race,
which has been going on for a year
or two, has been speeded up. And
while the governments concerned
attempt to keep 1t hidden, it is an
open secret that mobilization is un-
derway by several major powers,
that almost all Of the powers have
perfected plans which make it pos
sible to put the countries on a war
basis In few hours, and that there
are more men and more munitions
ut the various frontiers in Central
Europe than at any time in the past.
The place to watch is still Czech
0slovakia. It Is true that Hitler
backed down few weeks ago, at
time when it seemed German inva-
sion of the Sudetan territory was
assured. It is not true, according
to experts in touch with affairs. that
Hitler has at all changed his views
or desires. He felt then that the
time was not ripe and that the risk
was too great-largely, 1t Is believ-
ed, because he has not been given
satisfactory assurances that Italy
will fight with him II q general war
war breaks out, In spite Of the Rome
Berlin axis. Mussolini is apparent
~ still pursuing a fence-sitting poll
icy. He wants to back q winner.
That fact alone may be all that is
holding the Reich in check.
A few days ago a significant
change appeared in the attitude Of
the German press toward the
Czechs. This press is 100 percent
government controlled prin-
cipal papers in some cases are own
ed by high government officials,
such as Propaganda Minister Paul
Goebbels. For about month the
German papers said little about
Czechoslovakia, and what little they
said was relatively conciliatory. Now
they have opened new campaign
against Czechoslovakia- bitter edi-
torials designed to inflame the Ger
man people are all the product Of
one idea: that Der vaterland's pa
thence is becoming exhausted, and
that either the Czech government
must acced to demands which would
virtually make it ward Of Ger
many, or be brought to terms by
military force. It is a certainty that
these editorials are government-in-
spired, and they indicate that Hit
Ter is again considering invasion.
England still holds the key to the
situation. It is English Cancellation
with Germany and Italy that has
encouraged the dictators, and made
them more than usually bold. Both
Hitler and Mussolini frankly hope
that 1t will be possible to disrupt
the ancient Franco-British Alliance
which would isolate France, leave
her with no nearby friend in Eur
ope, surround her with dictator
ships Ut, as seems certain now, the
fascists win in Spain) and greatly
reduce her power and her influence.
The Chamberlain government is ap-
parently in great fear Of taking any
step that Nigh provoke the Rome
Berlin axis to retaliation, as the UNI
precedented spectacle of her pass
ing over with mild protests the fas-
"a -