Evening star., 1939-04-17
WASHINGTON G., MONDAY APRIL IT, 1885,
Dictutors' Reversal
Of Policy Is Held
Not Likely
By PERTINAX.

Nobody believes here that the mes
sage sent by President Roosevelt to
Chancellor Hitler and Premier Mus
solini will bring about real reversal
of both dictators' policy and pave
the way to an all-around European
settlement. All the political prophets
agree that the American Presidents
purpose will not be fulfilled.
National Socialist Germany and
Fascist Italy are irrevocably deter
mined to assert their hegemony over
the European continent. the whole Of
the Mediterranean and Northern
Africa. They are not open to those
mutual compromises, to those mutual
adjustments of interests, to that
process Of give and take which are
the soul of an international confer
ence such as the American President
has in mind.
Let us not forget that neither Hit
Ter nor Mussolini has ever defined
in clear and unmistakable phrases
his respective claims upon the West
ern and other powers They have
always expressed them in elastic
terms. In truth, those claims are of
a practically unlimited nature. And
it must not be forgotten that in Ger
many and Italy the existing totali-
tartan regimes are bound to stand
or fall with those excessive ambi-
tions they have done their best to
foster among the people.
We can, therefore, be sure that
,, Roosevelt's program will come to
nothing.
Speed in Events Foreshadowed.
But are Roosevelt's S proposals likely
to accelerate or to slacken the
rhythm Of the international crisis?
Assuming that the answer to be re-
turned to Washington by the die
tators will be Of an entirely negative
nature, the international crisis bids
fair to unroll itself more speedily
than hitherto.
The explanation is that. as re-
suit OF the accommodating mood
shown by the two relationships,
American isolationism (as things
are seen from here) will probably
recede into the background, that
American policy will 60 forward
more boldly TO the side of the great
European coalition now being form
ed, and that the various nations in
cluded in that coalition will, as
consequence. gather courage to stand
hrmer IN their resistance to Ger
many and Italy.
1t can already be said that Roose-
velt's message has acted like tonic
upon public opinion in the countries
banded together against German
and Italian imperialism.
Thus, within comparatively short
time, Berlin and Rome will have
had to put up with q set of adverse
developments - first, the sudden
change of Poland, which, from a
mood Of cooperation with Germany
bordering upon active completely,
has retraced her steps toward the
Western powers; second. the ac-
ceptance by Great Britain and
France of extensive military COM
mltments toward Poland, Rumania,
Greece, Soviet Russia and Turkey;
third, the Strengthening of Frances
and Britain's connection with the
United States.
1t would be very surprising indeed
if Germany and Italy did remain
passive very long and did not at
tempt to recoup themselves in one
way or another, which does not
mean that they will not manage
to find counter-move that does
not Immediately plunge them head
long into war.
But is it to be absolutely ruled
out that the diplomatically minded
in Berlin and Rome will have their
way and convince both Hitler and
Mussolini that they had better draft
a guarded reply to Roosevelt. in
dulge In some tactical move which
might rekindle American isolation
ism, and furthermore disgruntle and
disturb the new system OF collective
security initiated by British Prime
Minister Chamberlain and his
foreign secretary, Viscount Halifax,
one month ago?
1t would be easy, after all, for
Hitler and Mussolini and it would
not cost them much to tell Roose-
velt in their reply that they are
ready to consider his program, pro-
vided the Western powers would,
first of all, give up their policy OF
"encirclement," and at any rate
leave in suspense or postpone sine
die the signature Of the treaties
now being negotiated with Russia
and Turkey.
And, mind you, if Germany and
Italy entered an international con-
ference of the kind outlined by
Roosevelt without having nreviouSlv