Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-09-10
Surprising Number
OF keutraIs Contrast
With World War
British Diplomacy Uses
Greatest Restraint to
Preserve Relations
By JOHN GUNTHER.

LONDON, Sept. 9 (N.A.N.A).-
Almost the most interesting thing
about this war is the number OF
people who are not in it. Last week,
somewhat glibly, We called it Sec
ond world war. But 1t is not
world war. at least not yet. 1t is a
war between the British Empire,
supported by two satellite states,
France and Poland, and Germany.
The situation is very different
from that of 1914. when Britain,
France, Russia, Germany. Austro-
Hungary, Belgium and Serbia at
once leaped into action as If eager
for the fray. Japan, Turkey and
Italy followed promptly. But today
only four European powers are
fighting.
The position of the neutral states
Is regarded with the greatest inter-
est and attention here. Very great
restraint is observed. British diplo-
macy is active in maintaining just
as good relations as possible with
all neutral states
Cause of Wide Neutrality.
The paramount reason why so
many states remain neutral is. &C
cording to neutral diplomats here.
self interest, which means self
preservation. Fear of Hitler, fear
of war, is the dominant phenome-
non. Belgium does not want to be
a battlefield again, nor does Yugo-
slavia or Rumania. The Neither
lands, Switzerland, the Scandinavian
states, countries additionally neu-
trail, are even more determined than
in 1914 to stay out
Pressure to enter the war will be-
come enormous for some countries
us the war proceeds.
Pivotal positions are held by Bel
efum and Italy. The fact that Bel
GUM is neutral is grave strategical
handicap for the allies. 1t shortens
the Western front almost by half,
allowing the Germans to concern
trate their defenses. 1t makes flank
ing operations difficult.
Effects of Italy's Stand.
Italy's neutrality serves to hold at
least two other countries neutral
Yugoslavia and Turkey-neither OF
which is likely to move until Italy
does. The Turks have said as much
frankly. Yugoslavia has ordered
general mobilization, but this is in
terpreted here as measure to pre-
serve her neutrality.
Hungary, too. is determined to
maintain neutrality as long as pos
sible. Hungary likes its new COM
mon frontier with Poland and wants
to continue close, friendly relations
with Poland. Yet Germany. in order
to get Rumanian oil freely, would
have to make a passage through
Hungary.
Rumania announced today she
would not only remain neutral, but
would refuse to sell supplies to any,
body. This is isolationism OF a
quality seldom seen in Europe. The
Russian attitude, as announced in
Moscow, is, in part, the opposite
from the Rumanian. The Russians
are going to remain neutral. at least
for the present, but will continue to
sell supplies to both sides.
Russia Keeps Others Out.
It is pointed out here today-in
conservative circles, too-that the
Russo German pact which upset all
the applicants has inadvertently
rendered considerable indirect service
to the allies. That is, it has been
one factor in keeping Italy, Japan,
and especially Spain neutral. These
countries, however, probably would
have started out neutral whether or
not there had been a Russian pact.
There has been considerable talk
here concerning German plans in
the event that Warsaw Is captured
1t is taken almost for granted that
the Germans will then make peace
offer of some kind. 1t is assumed they
will say that they have won their
half-war, their token war, and will
piously suggest calling the rest Of
1t of.
Now a new element has allegedly
crept in. 1t is that the Germans
may make their so-called offer more
attractive-if they make it at all
by first contriving to set up a kind
of Polish puppet government and
get this government to accept peace
terms. This government, if anything
so fantastic could be created, would
then free Britain from its pledge to
Poland and make it easy for the
British and French to withdraw
The idea seems too wild for credence,
and it is scoffed at in Polish circles
as unutterable nonsense Neverthe-
less, it is not impossible that the
Germans will try something like it.
The idea that the Germans do not
want two-front war does not seem
to fit the submarine warfare against
the Britons. On the other hand, the
submarine activity may be intended
as part of the same scheme-that
Is, as a device to make peace seem
attractive.