Evening star., 1939-10-05


ment, no official David Lawrence.
comment can be made.
The desire, however, to end the
European war at the earliest pos
sible moment and to persuade each
side to consider an armistice runs
strong in the official group. 1t is
well recognized that Great Britain
must publicly say that no peace
terms can be accepted which do not
provide for an attainment of the
objectives for which she went to
war, and it is likewise understood
that Germany cannot publicly set
forth terms which would involve a
retreat. But underlying the peace
talk is frank realization that Ger
many does not want to keep on
fighting, and that the British and
French would welcome an honor
able way out.
The war was begun, in the first
instance, WITHOUT taking into ac-
count that the British and French
would fight. Herr Hitler felt con-
fldent he could depend on local
lied war, that as soon as he seized
and subjugated Poland all would be
over. He may have even reasoned
that in view of the British treaty
with Poland, the former could not
avoid participation, but that if con-
fronted with conquered Poland,
the British might subsequently take
Q different view.
Hitler Miscaleulates Position.
Herr Hitler. miscaiculated the
British position and now wants to
end the war He is too well acqualnt-
ed with British pronouncements to
think that mere reStatement OF
his pacific aims toward the British
and French would be adequate. He
knows that some form of guarantee
must be forthcoming which would
satisfy British and French opinion.
With the entrance of Russia into the
picture as guardian of collection
of lesser states, thus blocking Nazl
progress to the East, Herr Hitler
cannot be AS happy now as. his
makeshift alliance seemed last
month to indicate.
That Hitler earnestly wants peace
now is unquestionably true. Shall
his effort be spurned just because
he has made mistake? Are the
allied statesmen shrewd enough to
penetrate the bluff and threat and
bluster Of public speeches and to
realize that a prolonged war means
$ha nnayNVoip ruin Nf oil ENllrNnno
There may have to be good deal OF
swallowing of pride on each side,
but loss of pride is of negligible i'm
portance if there is forthcoming
a guarantee against constant recur-
renee of the use of force as means
Of altering boundaries. .
Maybe the craftsmanship of the
world is ready to return to collec-
tive security-a family of nations
instead of balance of armed power
and maybe the German people
will join such a union today in the
midst of war they cannot possibly
be relishing. An association of ma
tions which does not provide for a
gradual reduction of armament
would be futile, but, also, any. as
sociatio of nations which did not
provide for. gradual revision OF
territorial and economic arrange
ments of the past would be equally
futile.
Part of IsolatiOnists.
The key to peace is right here in
Washington. If the isolationist group
which is so eager to keep American
boys and American families from
being dragged into war would use
their talents and energies to get back
Of plans to formulate a world peace
program, the embargo issue would
soon become academic. But, unhap-
PLY, in the past the same group
which is now fighting a revision of
the embargo has been opposing all
efforts to exert on behalf of America
any tangible influence for interna-
tional cooperation. The United
States may have been unsuccessful
In 1915 and 1916 in endeavoring to
persuade the belligerents to lay down
their arms, but it ultimately turned
out that America was able, as con-
sequence of those preliminaries, to
bring about an armistice. History
might repeat itself now Certainly
there is nothing to be lost for the
allies to agree to an armistice and
discussion now, each side maintain
ing status quo in a military and
naval sense until the issues were
thoroughly examined.
It is not unlikely that an armistice
once proclaimed would lead to peace
because each government knows now
that force will be used because 1t
already has been used. The British
and French would be making a Sc
rious mistake if they did not set
forth their aims specifically and con-
cretely and in such a manner as to
provide a way out for Herr Hitler.
To stop the war now is not ito sur
render" in ignoble fashion, as was
suggested in the British parliament
tary debate this week, because to
surrender to higher law than man.
kinds brutishness is never ignoble.