Evening star., 1939-04-16
London
Continued From First Page.)

new wave of anti-Polish attacks in
the Nazi press had strengthened
rumors in Berlin that Hitler was
planning an imminent coup In the
Free City Of Danzig.
On the other hand, Britain and
France had renewed consultations
in alarm at reported italian and
Spanish war concentrations near the
vital Gibraltar gate Of the Mediter-
ranean; Britain was attempting to
swing the might of Soviet Russias
huge air force to the side of the
anti-aggression bloc in Europe's
lineup Of power; the British empire
was bolstering its defenses.
Rumania and Poland Confer.
Rumania and Poland, allies since
1921 for mutual defense against the
Soviet Union on the east. only today
had exchanged oral guarantees for
defense against the new peril from
Germany on their western frontiers.
The British war Office announced
that the first battalion of the Welsh
Guards Regiment would be sent to
Gibraltar ION or after April %" to
buttress the defenses Of that key to
Britain's armed might in the Medi-
terranean. Defense booms to both
entrances to Gibraltars admiralty
harbor were swung into position.
The measures, including new land
barricades to protect the strategic
fortress, followed reports of new
italian troop concentrations across
the Strait of Gibraltar in Spanish
Morocco and Germany's announce
ment that her fleet would hold ma
neuvers of the Spanish, Portuguese
and Moroccan coasts.
Tension in official quarters in the
Netherlands, which had strength
ened her border defenses in recent
weeks, was relaxed noticeably by
President Roosevelt's appeal, which
was hailed in Amsterdam as q sign
post pointing to world peace and
prosperous international trade.
Balkans Jubilant.
Southeastern Europe, nations OF
which were named among the 81
for which President Roosevelt asked
specifically guarantees of >non-ag-
gression, was jubilant.
A Rumanian foreign Office omcial
said, THE Presidents declaration is
q tremendous contribution to the
efforts of the forces striving tor
peace" Pleased Yugoslav officials
wired the text to Premier Cvetkcvich
in Zagreb.
Britains war time Prime Minister,
David Lloyd George, commented
tersely on the Presidents appeal.
"A magnificent and momentous ap-
peal to reason"
In London diplomatic quarters
generally, however, doubt was en-
pressed whether the message would
change the policy of the Rome
Berlin axis in any major way.
lone thing is certain" observed
one diplomat. 1T is the hardest
message to answer in the history of
diplomacy. 1t would be easier to
declare war than to answer it."
Pessimistically, another COM
mented, 1T is magnificent effort,
but the President is holding up his
hand to an avalanche"
Will Place Responsibility.
The consensus in London embas-
sizes seemed to be that the appeal
at least would have the effect of
placing the responsibility for a new
war II it does not prevent one.
Diplomats speculated that Hitler
might answer merely with q long
recitation Of "injustices Of Ver-
sailles," coupled with comment that
Germany trusted the Versailles
powers for 20 years and believed
in conferences without reward.
1t was generally agreed alnong
London diplomats tina. there are two
main dynamite kegs in Europe-the
Spanish peninsula and the Polish
Corridor area, including Danzig.
An Italian German lEove aaeinst
Yugoslavia was feared bv some, but
Il was not believed that the British
French alliance would fight for thst
country. The reason advanced was
that YugoSlavia was violently split
internally. British and French diu-
lomatic reports indicated the Yugo-
slav Army actually was neither
strong nor united.
The French Ambassador, Charles