Evening star., 1939-10-15

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passionate eloQuence. He has already
effectively barred Hitlers road to the
southeast. 80
At the end OF long struggle, in which
Stain has clearly no intention of taking
part unless We are fools enough to drive
him into 1t, Communist Russia will have
equipped herself with the best German
machinery for increasing her resources.
Her people will have become more pros
porous, her gigantic power will be
stronger than ever. but there is no indi-
cation that her love for Nazi Germany
or Hitler will grow any stronger. The
bonds may tighten, but they will not be
bonds of affection.
In fact, Nazi Germany will be more or
less at the mercy of this resolute Com
munist potentate. who justifies his ac-
quired and well merited name Stain
man of Steel" If he decides to bolshe-
vize Germany, all he will have to do is
not to march his armies into her ter
ritories but to slam his gates in her
face.
Hitler cannot feel easy about that
prospect There can, therefore, be no
doubt about the reasons which have
prompted him to make peace overtures,
and of his readiness even to make Ger
tain concessions, such as the suggestions
for setting up Polish state and for
general disarmament. in order to pro-
cure it.
Discounts Fear of French.
In my honest estimate of the military
situation, do not think that Hitler has
any fear that France, even with her
magnificent army, will ever be able to
smash through the Siegfried defenses
of Germany.
Neither do believe that he appre-
hends repetition of the catastrophe of
1918, when Germany was starved into
revolution, but he must be uneasy about
his dependence upon the vast Bolshevik
empire which now has become his next
door neighbor-and upon whose loyalty
the German people will depend for their
very existence.
What about the western powers?
Surely they must realize that it is also
to their interest to secure peace if it
can be achieved on honorable terms
honorable in themselves and providing
guarantees of permanence What have
they to gain by prolonged WARP,
The financial reserves of Britain are
probably the greatest in Europe but they
are not inexhaustible If Russia places
her vast resources of raw material and
food at the disposal of Germany, the war
will be very protracted struggle. It took
us four and half years to strangle Ger
many effectively by our blockade in the
last war, with Russia Impoverished by a
long war, governed by a corrupt and
rotten government and unable to feed her
own population, let alone provide sur
plus for any of her neighbors. If it Is
fought to the bitter end, there is no fore
casting the length or ultimate issue Of
the contest.
Meanwhile, our international trade, on
which we are more dependent than any
other country, will largely be suspended.
We shall have to face and fight a
desperate effort to harass and DESTROY
our shipping. We are more dependent
upon sea transport for our food and raw
materials than any great country in the
world. Continued neglect of our agri-
culture for many years has diminished
the fertility of our soil, and that neg
lgence cannot be repaired without a
sustained program of cultivation and soil
improvement which should take years to
perfect.
Food Lifeline Threatened.
We beat off the attack on our sea COM
munlcations in the great war and I am
hope1ul that We can do so in this war.
But at best our overseas supplies will be
restricted and We cannot eliminate the
possibility of greater risks. So far, air.
plane power in maritime conflict has not
yet been fully displayed.
The Maginot line may and probably
will hold. The Germans may not think
1t worth their while to throw away mil
lions OF their young men in attacking
It, They do not seek French territory.
Britain is real enemy and they will
seek its life by every means.
In Europe, Russia alone stands to
gain; and Germany and ourselves will
at the end be confronted with a tri-
umphant, potent, opulent Communist
state. IT peace can be secured now on
terms that will not involve sacrifice of
honor and which might end in COM
blnation of powers which will feel that
the interest of all lies in guaranteeing
the world against the rapacity of am
bilious aggressors, then surely it is to
everybody's interest now to promote
measures that will give us and the world
a settlement which will insure perma-
nent tranquility. Not only Hitler, but
France and Britain must recognize that
the whole situation has become COM
pletely metamorphosed by the remark
able exhibition we have witnessed of
the reality and efficiency of Bolshevik
power.
Another face-to-face conversation be-
tween Hitler, Chamberlain and Daladier
would answer no useful purpose. Mu-
mich was disastrous failure even with
the presence of Mussolini. It was not
conference in any sense of the term.
There was an atmosphere of rush panic
about 1t which was fatal to deliberation.
Both the Western Premiers were fright
ened and intimidated by scowling,
gesticulating dictator whose legions
waited his word to march into war.
The change which has taken place in
the position occupied by Russia has COM