Evening star., 1939-12-03


the Soviet Republic Outside the strong
denunciation against this crime against
civilization from the White House in
Washington, there has been little, if any,
thing, said by the governments of the
Western democracies which are actually
at war with Germany for the sake Of
saving the smaller European states from
destruction.
When the question Is asked why the
British and the French governments,
who are at present championing the
cause of the weak and oppressed, did
not make at least gesture such as
breaking off diplomatic relations with
the Moscow government the answer was:
what can they do? They have no means
Of getting at Russia and giving Finland
an effective support. Her independence,
like that of Poland and Czecl.o- -Slovakia,
will be restored to her when the allies
win the war"
But behind this answer another more
profound reason must be sought.
Leaving out the Finnish incident"
there is more peace talk In the air
today than at any time since the Ger
man-Polish war began.
The armies sit tight in their impregna-
bic positions on the western front. The
German submarines and mines are play
ing havoc with allied shipping. Once
In a while q man-of war goes down in
gloriously-without firing shot or even
clearing decks for action. There is no
glory in this sit-down war. No decora-
tions are showered on the valiant fight
ers. The customary flowers are not
handed to departing troops. 1t is con-
sidered that they are going to do ordi-
nary garrison duty few hundred miles
away from their villages. The imagina-
tons of the people cannot be inflamed
either by remarkable war deeds or by
the destruction Of their homes or by the
propaganda of their governments. The
people Of the belligerent nations are sick
and fed up with this war. The govern
ments are scared to death because they
cations of the campaign lasting longer
than the economic and social structures
Of their countries can endure.
Secret Peace Moves.
The British and the French govern
ments while declaring loudly that there
can be no peace in Europe unless Hitler
ism disappears, are endeavoring through
secret channels to approach the back
bone of Germany's power-the army
for peace consultations. The Germans,
in turn, are still offering through the
intermediation Of refugees in neutral and
belligerent countries honorable peace
terms. The armies of both groups have
been ordered to refrain from the slight
est act Of hostility, and fraternization-
while officially forbidden-occurs every
day on the long front which separates
the Maginot from the Siegfried Line.
The proposal of the allies to the Ger
mans is to get rid of Hitler somehow or
other. Through important financial
houses which can convey messages to
Germany despite Herr Himmlers power
full Gestapo, the allies are offering the
following conditions: They are willing
to negotiate an honorable peace with the
German people If the present Fuehrer is
replaced by Field Marshal Hermann
Goering.
The British and the French govern
ments say that they trust Goering's
word as they trust the honor of the
generals Of the Reichswehr. In the
event of change in the leadership OF
the German people both governments
will undertake to recognize the conquest
of the Corridor and Danzig by the Reich
and leave the question of Upper Silesia
open for further negotiations. There
will be no question Of indemnity Of repa-
rations for the damage done so far.
Poland would be guaranteed access to
the sea Jointly by Germany. France and
Great Britain. That outlet might be
Danzig or Gdynia or both. The objec-
tons which were made last August to
such a proposal, which then came from
Germany. were based on the belief that
neither the Poles nor the allies could
trust the word of Adolf Hitler. But the
allies are willing to accept the promise
of a new government with Field Marshal
Goering at its head.
Economic Confederation Proposed.
The proposals go further. They call
for the reconstruction Of Europe on
different basis. The idea Of an economic
confederation of European states is be-
ing discussed thoroughly.
Herman Goering is limited Socialist.
He approves of the socialization OF Ger
many-up to point. In his direction
of the four-year plan he has leaned
heavily on capitalism. Goering was
closer to British and French financial
houses, until the outbreak of the war,
than any other German leader including
the shelved economic wizard, DR.. HAL
mar Schacht. This modern Falstaft-as
he is called In Britain-has endeared
himself to the British Ambassador, Nevil
Henderson, who vouches for anything
promised by Goering holding good.
The field marshal is heavily backed by
the army and the mobiized German
army of today is the supreme dictator OF
the Reich. The much-feared Gestapo,
which got rid Of the Gems. Won Blom-
berg, Fritsch, Beck and many others by
merely whispering word in the
Fuehrer's ear, has taken secondary po-
sition In Germany's life. It still CO.
operates with the general staff in hunt
ing down spies and agents Of national
disruption. But 1t has no right to in
terfere with the army itself.
The clumsy attempt of Herr Himmler
three weeks ago, when he kidnapped two
-