Evening star., 1939-03-16

molition of the Cecho-S -Slovakian
state after assurances had been
given by the German leaders that
its independence would be respected
is not development easy to ignore.
Nothing is said officially, of course,
but disappointment and chagrin is
evident on every side. The pro-
nouncement by Prime Minister
Chamberlain that the dismember-
ment of Czecho-Slovakia is con-
trary to the spirit of the Munich
agreement" affords small comfort
here to those in the State Depart
ment who have believed all along
that the British policy of "appease-
ment" has been wrong. Being con-
fronted with a series of accom-
plished facts, the diplomacy of the
hour is to say nothing but to
strengthen the policy of armament
building.
Defense Sniping Goes On.
The administration will have a
substantial majority in Congress for
its national defense program, but
this is not saying that persons
whose views coincide with those of
the Fascist leaders would not like
to undermine the American project.
Thus already one hears sniping here
and there about nobody ever at
tacking America" about air inva-
sions being fantastic and the like
But congressional committees have
uncovered evidence that agents of
foreign governments seek in every
way to distract the attention of the
authorities from policies which may
be unfavorable to foreign countries.
One of the favorite forms of at
tack against governmental policies
of national defense and one in which
innocent Americans are being duped
Is that which accuses the adminis-
tration of wanting to go to war 70
assist oppressed persons abroad
These latter peoples are pictured
rs "the scum of Europe" and there
is complete Indifference even 20
the fact that intellectuals have
been prosecuted along with the
others.
So-called patriotic societies. are
being urged to fight letting down
OF immigration bars" when in truth
back of such urging is an effort to
develop nationalistic sentiment here
coincident with the type of think.
ing one encounters in the Fascist
state. Some of the same elements
which would like to see union labor
crushed and subjected to the Fascist
type of governmental regulation
appear every now and then to be
backing the propaganda which is
being spread against the extension
of American sympathies, for ex-
ample, to unfortunate Czechs or
other peoples who have come under
the heel of the dictatorship states
Humanitarianism Brushed Aside.
While it is true that emotionalism
does not make and should not DOM
mate foreign policy at any time, i,
Is strange to read some of the
propaganda against American in
terest in oppressed peoples which
pours into the National Capital
daily from those who profess to oe
interested only in America. The
Idea of humanitarian motives in a
governmental policy seems to have
been brushed aside by these critics
as something not to be accepted any
more, and as If 1t were only relic
of bygone days of mistaken senti-
mentality.
That nearly 1000 years ago a great
religion was founded on the principle
OF human brotherhood and of seek
ing to spread tolerance, kindliness
and consideration for ones fellow
man, instead of hates and selfish
ness and Indifference to human suf-
fering, has been overlooked in the
literature Of race hatred emanatine
from so-called patriotic" groups. II
is as sure way to divide Americans
as the Germans used in Czecho-Slo-
vakia.
Military wars never settled any.
thing satisfactorily, to be sure, anc
there isn't in the National Capita
any group which believes Americs
must engage in war with a Eu-
ropean power in order to secure re.
spect for her citizens or for her point
Of view. But it can hardly be de.
MED that the Importance of build.
ing up ornaments now has beer
fully recognized as a means of pre-.
venting war. What is happening II
"A