Evening star., 1939-04-09


stock Of the international situation with
out being swayed by the wave Of emo
tionalism which swept so many countries
after the dramatic announcement of
Neville Chamberlain committing Brit
aims armed forces to the rescue Of Po-
land in case she is attacked.
Fundamentally, President Roosevelt
and his diplomatic advisers in Washing
ton and abroad-Secretary Cordell Hull,
Undersecretary Sumner Welles, Ambas-
sadors Bullitt and Kennedy-are eager
that the stop Hitler" movement should
become an effective reality. While they
all realize the temper of the country is
opposed to any commitments to the
sponsors of the movement, they believe
that determined attitude by the
Western states to prevent the Fuehrer
from gobbling up more independent
countries in Eastern Europe might have
a dramatic reaction in the United States.
But, from all reports received during
these last two fateful weeks, it appears
that despite Mr.. Chamberlain's new atti-
tude the general situation, as far as
Great Britain and France are concerned,
has not materially changed. The only
new element is Poland's fear of being at
armed resistance to any attempt to in
terfere with her independence. King
Carol Of Rumania has assured the Polish
government that the Rumanian armed
forces would rush to Poland's assistance
by creating a diversion in Czecho-Slo-
vakia should Germany actually attack
the Polish Republic. These are indeed
new facts which may create situation
in which Great Britain and France may
find themselves compelled to take a
hand and offer military support to the
Eastern states. 1T is impossible to fore
cast what may happen all over the world
once the guns begin to bark" was the ex-
preston used by high American official
in surveying the general outlook.
Polish Masses Determined.
The determined attitude of Poland
has been caused by the Polish masses
themselves; the government. and espe-
cially Col Joseph Beck, were forced
from within to adopt the present atti-
tude.
Despite the small piece Of loot Berlin
permitted Poland to take from Czecho-
Slovakia after September 30, there has
been growing uneasiness in that re-
public since the 5000 900 Polish Uranians
began clamoring for their independence
at the bidding of Hitlers agents. Since
the middle of January there have been
repeated demonstrations before the Ger
man embassies and consulates in various
Polish towns including Warsaw. In
many instances, a police guard had to be
placed to protect those establishments
from mob violence. The Warsaw gov
ernment has had to curb the tone of the
press on repeated occasions to avoid
friction with Berlin.
After the annexation of Memel this
feeling grew stronger. The Poles saw
the writing on the wall. They felt that
after Memel there will be Danzig, and
after Danzig the Corridor, unless the
Polish nation makes it clear in time
that any attempt to stifle the country
will be answered by arms. 1t may be
too late to save the Corridor and their
only outlet to the sea-Gdynia.
Polish Army Strong.
Conversations have been going on be-
tween Warsaw and Berlin. During those
talks the Poles displayed a compre-
hension of Germany's problems. Foreign
Minister Beck indicated that Poland
would not object to complete nazifl-
cation of the free city of Danzig since
that town is now Nazi controlled, but
they would not agree to Germany S
making Danzig fortified place. Poland
also indicated that it would not object
to the Reich building highway con-
Meeting East Prussia with the rest Of
the Empire to facilitate the transport OF
East Prussian troops to military fronts
in case of need But COL Beck was most
explicit in telling Berlin that Poland
could not accept retrocession of the
Corridor to Germany because the ma
ton would feel completely at the Reich's
mercy if she does not control the strip
of land which connects the country with
the port of Gdynia. The German sug-
gestion that railway zone would be
assured to Poland was considered unac-
ceptable The Corridor must remain
Polish, Beck repeatedly stated, if Poland
is to maintain her political and economic
independence.
Thus, if Hitler wants to eliminate the
Corridor and restore Prussias pre-war
unity, he must face armed opposition
from Poland; and this, it is believed in
Washington, would mean putting his
hand into a hornets nest. The Polish
Army-some 100000 strong when fully
mobilzed-cannot be dismissed lightly.
While its equipment facilities are in
ferior to the German and italian, it is
considered one of the best fighting units
in Eastern Europe. 1t has an air force