Evening star., 1939-09-23
Sta|in' Supremacy
Indicated in Soviet
Share Of Poland
Puris Now Looks on
Hitler as Yes-Mun for
Russian Dictator
BY EDGAR ANsEL MOWRER,

Russian Dictator
BY EDGAR ANSEL MOWRER,
PARIS, Sept. % By Radio).-
The Russo German agreement on
Poland, with its resultant occupa-
ton by Russia of an unexpectedly
large slice Of the conquered country
with a frontier reaching beyond
the ancient Russian Empire and
touching Slovakia, can be taken to
mean a historical crisis in European
affaiars.
Director Josef v. Stains suprem-
acy seems to be absolute. Fuehrer
Adolf Hitler becomes in this section
of the world Stains yes man. The
Russians alone will decide whether
Wilno is to go to Lithuania or re-
main part of the coming federated
Soviet republic of Poland. Obvious
ly, such Soviet Poland would not
be buffer state but an integrate
part of Stains Empire.
French newspapers speak of the
revival of -Slavism. This is not
the most striking aspect.> White
Russians and Ukrainians are Slavs
but there is no indication that they
ever pined to join the Soviets. Sta
lin will decide whether the Germans
alone, or without the Hungarians
or through the Hungarians, are to
attack or otherwise partition Ru-
mania.
If the Russians are willing, the
combined Hungarians and Russians
or the Russians alone, can take
Transylvania on one side and Bes-
sarabia on the other. conceivably
by a mere ultimatum without firing
q shot. Even with Turkeys assist
ance the western democracies could
not save the Rumanians, though
Turkeys power to open or close the
straits gives it key position.
Never Recognized Partition.
It must be remembered not only
Turkish friendship with Britain is
strong but that old Turkey was
the only country which never recog-
nized the former partition of Poland
and every diplomatic meeting at
the sublime porte always included
an empty chair for his excellency
the Ambassador of the King of
Poland.
It is not conceivable-even in a
world of fantastic surprises-that
Turkey should connive with the
Germans and Russians to aid further
conquest. But real interest in the
Russian advance consists in future
German Russian relations. Mill
tarily, if the Russians have really
closed the door to further German
pushes eastward. then Stain holds
the key to Germany's economic re-
sistance against blockade. He can
cut German supplies off or furnish
them. He can permit the Germans
to receive Galician and Rumanian
oil, or withhold it. And here is a
point:
Unless the Germans are sure the
Russians are willing to see that they
are fully supplied, Germany must
either be prepared for slow strangu-
lation and ultimate surrender under
pressure of the Franco-B British block
ade or try to smash through on the
west and break the blockade It is
this hypothesis that tends to prevail
here with the result that the French
and British are expecting, within a
limited time. some sort of German
military move in the west.
Ultfmatum Held Possible.
With small chance of any peace
offensive" being successful, the Ger
mans are expected to try to crush
the western powers. Such an attack
could be directed against the Mag
mot line or against a wider line, in
cluding Switzerland, Luxembourg,
Belgium or Holland.
A German ultimatum to any of
these countries some time within the
next few days or weeks would not
surprise any one. With Italy still
doubtful an attack might be ex-
tremely serious.
One other aspect of the German
Russian partnership" needs noting.
BY accepting a common front be-
tween a Russian-ruled Communist
Poland and Nazi Germany, the
latter has subjected the people to
the full impact of Russian propa-
ganda and contagion. None knows
how sensitive the Germans today
are to such contact. But that large
elements of the German people
would be sensitive, especially if the
element of patriotism could also
enter, leaves no room for doubt
Hitler not only started the present
conflict but, letting the Russians
into Europe, may have let loose
something new and formidable
which might conceivably transform
the lives of those involved for de-
cades to come.
(Copyright 1889, by Chicago Daily News,
Inc.D