Evening star., 1939-10-16
Neutral Diplomat
Hints at Secret
Negotiations
By M. w, FODOR,
Chicago Daily News Foreign Correspondent

chicago DAILY news Forelgn correspondent.
THE HAGUE, Oct. 16 (By
Radio Has the German peace
offensive any chance of success?
Well-informed Paris friends last
week declared that it had not the
least chance. But here on neutral
soil many well-informed people
think that the chances must not
be underestimated.
Paris people naturally wish the
failure of the peace offensive in
order to carry out the French war
aim. which is the destruction of
German tyranny. The neutrals, on
the other hand, are anxious for
peace for two reasons: First, be-
causes If the war continues they
may be involved in it, and, second,
because they fear that long war
may convert Germany and Eastern
Europe to bolshevism.
A neutral diplomatic source
summed up the situation as fol-
lows: AT the present open stage
! of the peace talks, France and Eng
land must say no. but there is rea-
son to believe that clandestine nego-
tiations are being conducted behind
the scenes. Hitler is now willing
| to make great concessions in order
to extricate himself from the trap
into which he walked partly due
to his own ignorance of world af-
fairs and partly to the advice of
the champagne agent, Ribbentrop
(Foreign Minister Joachim Won Rib
bentrop), who refused to believe
that if he managed to sell peace
to England at Munich, he could not
sell it second time.
Willing to Make Concessions.
ut is believed in neutral quarters
that Germany would be willing to
restore 10000 900 to Poland and give
her an exit to the sea. this time not
through Polish corridor but via a
German corridor. Hitler is also will
ing to restore Czecho- -Slovakia's au-
tonomy. Offers Of q return to the
League of Nations. cooperation be-
tween the great powers and similar
bats will be too tempting to refuse
| fatty.
"Yet his chief aim is the rescue of
his own power. He will secretly offer
an alliance with England and France
to fight Bolshevism. All this will
sound too tempting even to influen-
tial people in England and France,
where capitalistic quarters have al
ready grave doubts as to whether a
| long war would be expedient.
Though at the moment only
Lloyd George has dared to raise his
voice openly for peace, many in
fluential English persons support
him clandestinely. London City
realizes that If the war goes on a
capital levy is unavoidable, while in
France the government already con-
templates reducing war profits dras-
tically by from 3 to per cent.
Spread of BOlshevism Feared.
Moreover, 1t is feared that long
war will bring Bolshevism to Ger
many and the whole of Eastern and
Southeastern Europe. These fears
are entertained not only in capital
list quarters but even by section OF
the general staffs.
French and English public opin-
ion, of course, at the moment Ii
against any compromise, but, despite
the advantageous military situation
of the allies, probably Hitler's new
offers may find some hearing, I an
afraid"
/
tried to get my informer to dis
close whether the present secret
negotiations are being conducted
through the Pope or Italy, but hi
denied the first, and, as for Italy, hi
said that she followed events with
benevolent eyes.
| Il cannot disclose anything more
but perhaps you may seek the
| sources of the intermediation among
the crowned heads Of the neutra
countries" was my informers mys.
terious answer.
(Copyright. 1889. by. Chicaso Daily News
| Inc.)