Evening star., 1939-08-31
Hitler Pondeis


King Georges new Ambassador, the
Marques of Lothian, yesterday,
President Roosevelt expressed hope
that even yet constructive interna-
tional efforts might "obviate the
folly of war" The most that can
be said of those efforts, at the end
of more than two weeks of nerve
shattering strain, is that peace is
not yet broken, that attempts to
preserve it persist. Conducted in
the atmosphere of alarm, fear and
mobilization of millions of armed
men, it says much for the leaders
of all the countries concerned that
August-long anticipated as the
month of explosion-is apparently to
pass without commission of the SUI
preme folly" to which Mr.. Roosevelt
referred.
Second only to the folly of war"
itself would be the folly of believing
that, because war has not already
emerged from the mass of inflam-
mable conditions which threaten to
precipitate it, all danger of war has
vanished. On the contrary, much
late news bellies such hope. Hitler's
appointment of a six-man defense
council" headed by Marshal Goering,
has certain ominous aspect,
though it is only on all fours with
kindred long-range preparatory
measures like the Presidents crea-
ton of War Resources Board to
function promptly in case of Amer
lean embodiment in international
conflict.
Far outstripping the setting up of
an emergency war council at Berlin
is Der Fuehrer's readiness for con-
tinued negotiations, though on
terms destined either to prolong the
diplomatic Stalemate or eventuate
In hostilities. Britain has not made
public the text of Hitler's latest
representations, but it is known that
the Chamberlain government rejects
outright the German proposal that
1t persuade Poland to send some one
to Berlin with full powers to agree
to the annexation of Danzig and
the Corridor to the Reich. Downing
Street insists on direct German
Polish negotiations. 1t has report
edly submitted Hitler's suggestion to
Warsaw without comment, except to
reassure the Poles of Britain's irrev-
ocable resolve to stand by them if
they decide to fight.
That Poland has no notion of
yielding up her independence, for
acceptance of Hitler's conditions
would be, in her opinion, the prelude
to another Czecho-Slovakia, is in
dicated by orders for large-scale
mobilization of all Polish armed
forces, including naval defense in
the Baltic. The near-general mobi-
lization now in progress will bring
to well over 100000 the number of
men under arms. The Polish army
is strongly armed, capably led and,
in both numbers and equipment,
plus morale, is decidedly one of the
factors that are inducing Hitler to
ponder seriously the advisability of
risking the fate of Germany in
conflict with the Poles and their
powerful allies.
Conditions everywhere in Europe
are so mercurial, nerves so close to
the breaking point, so many powder
barrels need only a spark to set
them alight, that the issue of war
or peace remains utterly unpre-
drtable. The most encouraging
hope OF peace is Hitler's continued
willingness to negotiate. He knows
he cannot have Danzig and the
Corridor without fighting. He knows
that war might mean the end of
him and of his regime.
In that realization lies, as fateful
September daWnS, the strongest
prospect, slender as it may be, that
Germany will not plunge into an
other gamble to impose her will on
Europe determined as never before
to put an end to the system of in
timidation, force and aggression
which has pinned peace craving
civilization to the anxious seat ever
since the would-be Nazi Napoleon
embarked upon his reign of terror.