Evening star., 1939-07-24
New Alliances Abroad
Holding Peace Hope
Discussed in Report
Revised BoIunce Of Power
Nay Bring Calm, Says
Foreign Policy Group
BY JOSEPH H. BAIRD.

Hope that a new European bal
ance of power" similar to that which
insured peace on the Continent from
1871 to 1914, may yet prevent war
from sweeping the strife-torn Old
World is being widely expressed
today in diplomatic circles.
Some diplomatists and military
experts believe that as a result OF
rapid rearmament by Great Britain
and France and their growing sys-
tenn of alliances they have counter
balanced German-Italian strength
to the point where the Fascist bloc"
dares not make war. This may ac-
count in some measure for the re-
surgence of peace talk in Europe
last week.
In view of this theory, particular
interest is attached to a study of
recent European combinations and
alliances made public today by the
Foreign Policy Association, which
traces European diplomatic develop
ments since the fiasco at Munich.
New Balance Of Power.
"Out of the feverish diplomatic
and military activities of 1899 emerge
the outlines of new balance OF
power which, depending on the de-
cision Of leaders on both sides, may
either pave the way for a more ra-
tional settlement of European prob
ems than had proved possible dur
ing the last 20 years, or else crystal
lie into the battle lines of another
world war"
Britain, after having given Adolf
Hitler an implied permit to expand
In Eastern Europe, was shocked by
his dramatic seizure of Bohemia and
Moravia last spring into the realiza-
ton that growing German power
might well endanger Great Britain's S
whole imperial structure. From that
point dates London's urgent efforts
to eheckmate the rise of Nazi power.
London proceeded by a series of
swift steps. First it co-ordinated its
defenses fully with those of France,
the report says. arranging in ad-
vance for unified command of
fighting forces, step not taken
until the third year of the World
War. Under the present arrange
ment, French general will COM
mand all land forces: British ad-
miral will direct both the British
and French fleets. and British Air
Corps officer will have charge of all
aerial arms. Further plans have
been made for co-ordinating the
purchase of materials and food.
Guarantees Extended.
In the field of alliances, Great
Britain and France have extended
protective guarantees to Turkey,
Greece. Poland and Rumania. bring
ing them effectively into the demo-
cratic bloc" Negotiations, mean
while, are going on for completion
of parallel of the pre-war triple
entente" through the inclusion of
Soviet Russia. Moscow, angered by
Its humiliating role at Munich, has
played, the Foreign Policy Asso-
citation points out, a skillful and in
dependent part in the conversations
What upset the calculations of
many chancelleries, the report says,
was that the Soviet government
played its hand not in accordance
with the theological concepts, which
had hitherto been thought to shape
Soviet foreign policy, but with what
It regards as Russia's national in
terests.
Whether national interests will
dictate eventual cooperation with
France and Britain-on Russia S
terms-or a trade deal with Ger
many, which would place Soviet raw
materials at the disposal of the Nazi
war economy, will depend on the
future course of events in Europe
and the Far East as appraised by
Stain and his subordinates."
Offensive Assistance.
Meanwhile, the report points out,
Chancellor Hitler, anxious over the
rapidly growing power of the demo-
cratic coalition, has sought to
strengthen the axis" by conversion
of the anti-Comintern pact with
Italy into full-fiedged military al
lance. This differs from the pre-
war treaty of the two powers in that
1t provides for offensive as well as
defensive assistance.
There remains, too, the possibility
that Fascist Spain may enter a mil
itary alliance with the two powers
which aided its victory over the
Loyalists. 1t is possible, also, that
Hungary, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia
may be brought within the Fascist
orbit. Although they have a re-
straining fear of German Italian
domination, their economic depend
ercA IN Berlin and Rnr,ao n, o II 4 riro