Evening star., 1939-03-14
aovakia Separation
Viewed as Appetizer
To Deeper Crisis
Diplomatic Quarters Here
Doubt Appeosement VoIue
In Face of Munich Pact
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

The new division of Czccho-Slo-
vakia. despite the guarantees given
at Munich by Great Britain, France.
Germany and Italy that the terri
tory of the new republic will not be
further diminished, has caused a
painful impression in official and
diplomatic quarters in Washington.
While officially the State Depart
ment maintains an attitude of aloof-
ness, the new crisis in Central Eu-
rope is viewed as merely the fore
runner of a more serious one which
is expected to occur before the end
of this month.
In official quarters the new sur
render of the British and the
French government to Germany's
military might is believed to be
likely to bring about trouble in
stead of appeasement.
Real Showdown Near.
Reports from Americas diplomatic
missions in Western and Central
Europe indicate the Italian and the
German governments are making
hasty preparations for a real show
down. While American diplomats
as rule do not like to be prophets,
this time many of the best Informed
ones are warning the administration
that trouble is likely to start within
the next 10 days. They seem to
predicate their prophecies on recent
troop movements; on the presence
of German submarines in the Italian
waters and other such developments
which indicate another forceful
coercion of the western democracies.
AS seen from Washington, the i'm
portance of the new partition of the
Czecho-Slovak Republic is that the
minor European nations will now ir-
retrievably go on the side of the
axis whether they like it or not.
Countries like Rumania and Yu-
goslavia, which in the last few
months have been fighting des-
perately to maintain their political
independence, are now disheart-
ened. King Carol and Prince Paul
of Yugoslavia looked toward the
Western democracies for support in
their struggle for political freedom.
The fact that neither the French
nor the British governments, which
in spite of Munich, were still con-
sidered powerful states, have not
registered even the slightest pro-
test at the new carving up of
Czecho-Slovakia has caused deep
concern in the Danubian Valley
states.
Holland Under Threat.
The same thing may be said about
Holland, which has been under the
Nazi threat for the last three
months. The Dutch people are de-
termined to maintain their political
and economic independence. But
naturally, because of their strategic
position, they were looking toward
France and Great Britain for sup
port in the event Nazi threats ma
terialized. The snew display of "un-
concern" due to military weakness
on the part of the main European
democracies is reported to have
caused the deepest concern" in Hol-
land.
The same thing applies to Switz-
erland, which is bordering both axis
states. The Swiss government has
received recently definite hints from
Berlin that in the event of a world
crisis German troops might be COM
PEELED to cross Swiss territory should
strategic reasons demand it.
The new partition of Czecho-
Slovakia is interpreted in ofilcial
Washington circles as an unmistaka-
BILE endeavor on the part Of the total
itarian states to secure the complete
obedience of the remaining small
democratic nations in their coming
struggle with France and Great
Britain,