Evening star., 1939-04-29
HitIer's Words-und Deeds

In Hitler's extraordinarily crafty
and cunning speech there is, as
Winston Churchill observed in
broadcast to this country, "a certain
character and quality of improve
ment." This is plainly due, in the
British state$man's view, to the
Christening effect of President Roose-
velts peace plea and to the coinci-
dent system of mutual aid against
aggression launched by Great Britain
and France, obviously with American
blessings. But between the Fuehrers
fairer words and consonant perform
ance Mr.. Churchill discerns a wide
gulf. Such declarations as were ad-
dressed to the world from the Reich
stag yesterday, he says, can inspire
neither trust nor confidence unless
and until they are made good by
deeds and conduct extending over
considerable time"
Protestations of Nazi peaceful in
tentions are reduced to instant alb
surdity when uttered in the same
breath with Hitler's demands on Po-
land. The Fuehrer emphasizes that
Warsaw was told once for all (ein-
malig) that the Poles must hand over
Danzig and permit Germany sover-
eign right of way across the Corridor
to East Prussia. That this means
eventual annexation of the Corridor
is a point that needs no laboring
Poland clearly is now in the plight of
Czecho Slovakia last September. If
she mobilizes, as Berlin claims has
already been done, to ward off threat
ened attack, she will automatically
provide Hitler with his famous pre-
text technique-his forces will be
compelled to move in self-defenSe
and for the protection of oppressed
minority German brothers." Thus,
before the echo of Hitler's pacific
protestations has time to die out, Po-
land Is in dire danger of becoming
the latest victim of planned Nazi
aggression.
Whether European war will ensue
depends on Poland's readiness to
battle for her independence; her de-
cision presumably will be governed
by the ability Of Britain and
France to come promptly and fully
to the Poles assistance. Events may
move with lightning speed. They
may not wait upon any formal dec
laration of war. Hitler's air force
may strike quickly, relying upon the
element of terror and surprise for
speedy decision. The Reichstag
speech takes Germany across the
Polish Rubicon. Warsaw must yield
or defy. Berlin must retreat or fight.
To that dreadful impasse a peace
craving Europe is brought by Adolf
Hitler's reply to President Roosevelts
appeal for decade of decency in in
ternational relations. The threat to
Poland is so brazen, its mockery of
Hitler's pacific professions so cynical
and complete, that Americans will
hardly waste a passing smile on the
shafts of heavy irony he levels at the
Presidents efforts to lead the world
out Of what the London Times today
calls "the jungle" The Fuehrers
labored sarcasm may bolster our iso-
lationists' conviction that Mr.. .Roose-
welt is war-mongering and meddling
the United States into Europe's quar-
rels-indeed, that is palpably part of
the Nazi strategy.
But, in the face of the sudden men,
ace to peace provoked by the ultima
tum to Poland, of Hitler's contemp-
tuous rejection of a conference to
prevent war and of the saber-rattling
that accompanies it-in the presence
of these new Nazi provocations, the
American people will be fortified, in
their approval Of their Presidents
courageous eHort to avert another
major war.