Evening star., 1939-08-20
Hitler Seeking to Wear Down
Britain for New Concessions
Germany Puts Reliance in Fuehrer, Who is
Advised by Won Ribbentrop That Britain
Will Not Fight for Danzis
Bp Constantine BrOwn.

remained nominally independent under
Germany's protectorate. Bratislava its
capital, was one of the strategic points
of the German Army and was in fact
controlled by the Reichswehr In order
to avoid any possible surprise, Hitler
took over Slovakia completely last Fri.
day, placing it formally under the juris-
diction of the Berlin general staff.
Now, the question of Hungarys In
corporation into the Reich has been
brought on the carpet and has formed
one of the main subjects of the Salz.
burg conversations between the for.
eign secretaries of Hitler and Musso-
lini.
Hungary, from the military point Of
view, is an important asset to the Reich.
The conditions in the country are ripe
for a showdown. There is no question
of Hungary losing its individuality like
Czecho-Slovakia. 1t is merely a ques-
ton of that country adhering to none
tary and tariff union with the Reich.
The Nazi movement in Hungary has
been somewhat ruthlessly suppressed by
the previous Budapest governments.
The principal figure in that kingdom
without a king is the regent Admiral
Nicholas Horthy. He. alone, has prob
ably been the greatest handicap to the
German tendencies of definitely aSsoci-
ating Hungary to the Reich
Rejected Military Alliance.
year ago Horthy visited Berlin,
where he was received with great hon
ors. But the rusty admiral refused to
be ensnared by Hitler and his asso-
ciates. He professed a certain amount
Of friendship for the Reich. less for its
present leaders, But when the ques-
ton of definite military alliance be-
tween the two countries came up he
definitely rejected it. He pointed out
to the Fuehrer, who spoke to him about
new era in Hungary under Horthys
glorious leadership. that Hungary was a
small country which could not afford
to lose a war
The old sea dog, who at one time was
the foremost Austrian naval commander,
stated that if Germany loses another
war Hitler would probably see his regime
disrupted. Germany might lose some
more territories, but it is too big a coun-
| try to disappear from the European
map. II Hungary, on the other hand,
were associated with the Reich in a war
like adventure and the god of arms were
to turn against them, Hungary would
be wiped completely off the map Of
Europe. And he, the regent of the coun-
try, could not assume the responsibility
for such an act. And while he assured
Hitler of his closest collaboration in the
economic field he made it plain that
Hungary would not want to join anybody
| in another world conflagration. And
| the smiling admiral is reported to have
quoted to Hitler the old motto of EN-.
press Maria Theresa: Bella gerant ala,
tn Austria nube Qet others fight wars,
you. Austria, enjoy marriage. He added
that while at his age this adage could
| not apply to the present ruler of Hun
gary he intended to stick to the idea of
others carrying on the wars
48-Hour War Fought.
From the time Horthy left Berlin the
Hungarians have been under direct Ger
man pressure. When their government
was not quick enough to enact an anti
Jewish law on the German pattern. the
Slovaks were told by Berlin to attack
Hungary and miniature war existed
for 48 hours in January of this year.
The matter was settled by Budapest
accepting Berlin's dictates The Hun
garian Nazis who had been put in Jail
because of their provocative attitude
were recently released and are now
playing an important role in Hungary
The army has been completely Nazified
despite the efforts of the government
to prevent it.
At the present moment there is
question of the establishment in Buda-
pest of pure Nazi regime This gov
ernment-probably without Horthy's
participation-will not only accept a
monetary and customs union. but will
also be willing to sign military allie
glance on Berlin's terms That is to
say that not only will the Hungarian
force be placed at the disposal of the
German general staff, but Hungary will
make no objection to German troops
entering her territory for outside mill
tary operations. That will mean that
the day Germany decides to wage war
on Poland she would have an additional
and important base of operations at her
disposal. In exchange for this military
marriage, it is said that the Reich will
see that portions of Pennsylvania, for
merly under the Hungarian rule but now
part Of Rumania, will be returned to
Hungary. The consent of II Duce for
this new operation of the Reich is neces-
sary before ideas are translated into
facts and the fate of independent Hun
gary will be sealed in the 18th century
castle where Herr Won Ribbentrop and
Count Galeazzo Ciano have been dis
cussing the new map of Central Europe.
| All reports received during the week
end from European capitals indicate that
this minor crisis will be given precedence
over the Danzig crisis. 1t will strengthen
Germany's position in regard to Poland
and will tend further to work on the
nerves Of the Western democracies.