Evening star., 1939-04-23

LONDON.-Roosevelt's dramatic ap-
peal has thrown wrench into the war
machinery of the aggressors just as they
were about to start on their deadliest
rush. 1t may not prevent but it has
postponed the final catastrophe. That
is point scored for world peace.
A fortnight's postponement in August,
1914, would in all probability have avert
ed war. The question which is being
asked everywhere in fear and trembling,
by men and women of all ranks and
races, is whether the Roosevelt inter-
vention will save them from another
great war.
There is no confident answer given
in any quarter. The elements of doubt
are numerous. The factors of certainty
are disquieting. Let us summarize both.
First of all, let us take the comparison
with 1914, where it is agreed that a put
ting of of the actual declaration of war
for fortnight would have given the
parties time to withdraw from danger
GUS diplomatic positions and commit
ments. But the comparison is incom-
plete without taking into account the
difference in the dominant personalities
in 1914 and 1899.
Hitler Times Decisions.
The Kaiser was headlong but funda-
mentally timorous. Hitler is a man Of
quick decisions, but they are generally
we'll timed and converted into action
with unhesitant temerity. But there are
other considerations of more insuper-
able character which seem to make for
war in the immediate future.
Is there any chance that Roosevelt
conference could overcome the difficult
ties arising out of the fixed and appar-
emily immutable ambitions of the great
dictators?
1t has been too readily assumed by su-
perficial observers of the movements of
the dictators that Hitler was walking off
with all the swag Of the gang. leaving
nothing but swank to his confederate.
There was widespread and growing
uneasiness in Italy itself as Hitler picked
up one property after another and added
it to his estates, while the Duce received
no share of the spoils and had to look
pleased at his partners luck.
But those who watched and weighed
what was happening in Spain realized
that the Duce sought his reward in the
Mediterranean and that could only be
plucked after the keys of that great
strategic peninsula had passed into to-
talitarian hands. Mussolini did not wait
long after the Franco victory to seize
his first bit of plunder-Albania. His big
turn is now at hand.
It is becoming increasingly clear that
those two great marauders all along have
understood each other thoroughly, have
for years worked out their plans conjointly
and have pursued them relentlessly in
concert ever since. Before the effect of
the Roosevelt dispatch can be forecast,
it is necessary to survey the position
which the dictators' plan has now
reached strategically.
May Force Showing Hand.
The Roosevelt document will help us
better to understand the problems If it
forces the aggressors to reveal what are
their fixed aims. These hitherto have
been largely a matter of conjecture.
Mussolini has left his claims to be pro-
claimed by the noisy calculations of
Italian mobs: I'VE want Tunisia, Nicia,
Corsica. and Jibuti." They are barely
toned down in the truculent diatribes Of
the Italian press "Mein Kampf" gives
a vague idea of Herr Hitler's objectives.
There was every indication last week
that the dictators were marching rapidly
toward their final move and that q
crushing blow was impending-that it
was on a great scale, and that it would
take the form Of 4 simultaneous and
combined attack Of q kind which would