Evening star., 1939-08-25

and formal, though fervant, lam
guage of the appeal 1t could be
read as an effort to persuade Italy
to detach herself from the so-called
axis. Any declaration that Italy
would remain neutral might be as
sensational a diversion of the bal
ance of power as was the sudden
announcement of a Russian German
treaty.
Italy is in an exposed position in
the Mediterranean. Already Franco
in Spain has announced that sign
ing of the Russian-German pact
leaves him free to act as he pleases.
1t would appear that Franco would
not make such a statement without
recognizing that Italy might be
offended. 1t would not be of so much
concern to Franco to ALLEVIATE
Berlin, but it means a great deal to
take a course different from that of
Mussolini
In view of the sympathetic in
terest displayed by the Vatican in
Frances war against Communism,
e1lC lIlApl Cooioll W dilo A1ClC tAlu Y
the three influences-the Vatican,
the Italian government and the
Spanish government-Will be found
urging Berlin not to make too much
of an issue of the Polish contro-
versy and to find some pacific way
out.
Much Depends on MussOlini.
In any event, much depends now
on Premier Mussolini. If he takes
the message from the American
President to mean that the United
States would dislike very much to
see the Italian people become in
volved in a war, or if he merely
infers that the President recognizes
the unique opportunity which Mus
lonini has to preserve world peace,
the result is the same-the Italian
leader has received clear indica-
ton of Americas concern.
What distinguishes the present
crisis from that which was ended by
the Munich pact last year is that
in this instance the moves for war
are definite and earnest. No bluff on
England's part can be detected now.
Every action taken, including the
summoning of the British Parlia-
ment, shows that the British are
determined to defend Poland.
There was no such proof of
British purpose with respect to
CZecho-Slovakia. The Germans
knew the British were not ready for
war. Hence Hitler could risk max
imum demands. This time the
German government knows it can
bring about war by single hostile
step of aggression.
Hitler Risks Disaster.
Is Germany ready for war? Out
wardly the impression has been
given of a united country, loyal to
the Fuehrer. But there is doubt
whether this can be true of the
many discordant elements in Czecho-
6lovakia and Austria. Germany S
rear will not be as easy to police if
war breaks out, and the prospect of
revolutions in the areas supposed to
have been placed under German
domination grows brighter as the
German army's attention is concen-
trated on any big war front.
The German people have never
had to face the reality of war
throughout the various moves of
Herr Hitler. They knew that at the
right moment he could recede and
avoid bloodshed, that he could out
bluff the other nations because he
was able to order a war, whereas
the democracies had to summon
parliaments and make sure that they
had been attacked on a cause suf-
flciently broad to produce a war
spirit. Germany's experts have not
figured that England would fight for
Poland over Danzig. But what they
haven't guessed is that if the de-
mands go beyond that, England
will enter the struggle on the side
of Poland.
Even at this writing, with changes
In the situation being recorded
hourly, the forces driving for peace
have more logic on their side than
has war. Hitler can gain something
out of the Polish crisis, possibly
Danzig itself, without war. He can
only risk internal trouble and dis
aster in a long war, which is bound
to come if he insists on destroying
Poland's independence.
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