Evening star., 1939-02-12

nOI dlT. III DOJIl CdplIdlS IIleTe is an uIl-
shakable belief that the democratic form
of government is incapable of resisting
the totalitarians because people do not
want war. But while the masses are
free to express themselves in democ-
racy, they can do nothing but obey in a
this writer: France and Great Britain
are magnificent edifices. They look as
if they could withstand any storm. But
few people realize that their foundations
are eaten by termites and they are going
to crunlble at the slightest tremor, at the
slightest push
There have been military activities in
Africa and in Europe which indicate
that the Rome-Berlin front is unshak-
able In Africa two motorized Italian
divisions have been transferred from the
center of Libya to the Egyptian border,
as warning to Great Britain of her vul-
nerability in Egypt. Marshal Italo
Balbo's aviation forces have been in
creased by some 80 machines. Six Ger
man divisions have been concentrated
between Klagenfurth and Willach, on the
German-Italian border, to be moved at
moments notice either to Italy or across
the Mediterranean to Africa. Approx
mately 42o heavy and anti-aircraft guns
have been dispatched from Germany to
Italy since January 4. This more than
covers Italy's deficiencies in that type OF
artillery. These guns will be used in the
Alps and in Northern Italy to meet any
conceivable emergency.
France Counts Upon Assistance.
Despite the open preparations for
showdown and the unmistakable superb
ority in military preparations OF Italy
and Germany, the feeling in France in
the government-among the high rank
ing officers of the general staff and
among the population itself-is that If
Italy puts her threats into effect France
will react at once by attacking Italy in
Europe Nothing but a desperate atti-
tude can save France from becoming
another Belgium or a Portugal, say
French leaders. While they all admit
that it is inconceivable that France could
fight both Italy and Germany success
fully, there is a deep conviction among
the people that neither Great Britain
nor the United States could allow France
to be crushed by the totalitarian states.
The feeling of the country can be
summed up in the following sentence:
Nous ne desirons pas la guerre mais 81
on nous attaque nous allons nous casser
lie cou joyeusement" (We don't want
war; but if we are attacked we are going
to break our necks cheerfully).
1t is automatic to any Frenchman, re-
gardless of what Mr.. Chamberlain and
his advisers say or think, that Great
Britain cannot stay out of conflict in
the event France fights Italy and Ger
| many at the same time. 1t is less aXio-
matte that American support will be
forthcoming. But, they say, they don't
need American boys across the water.
All they need is American airplanes,
For this purpose they have enough gold
to meet the requirements of the first six
months of war. The rearmament pro-
gram of the United States is filling the
French and the British with optimism.
A technical expert told this writer:
"You are building large number Of
Army planes. You now have some 1900
planes, the best in the world. You don't
need a powerful military air force be-
cause there is no likelihood you will have
to fight on the American continent. For
the next five years you are immune from
an attack on your own territory. You
cannot use them against Japan, because
in the event of war with that country
you can use only naval planes trans
ported on board the carriers.
Location of Frontier" in Doubt.
Hence, my contention is that your
amazing air program will give us the nee
essary airplanes. Your defensive from
tiers today are not on the American con-
tinent but wherever the three totalitarian
states endeavor to extend their domina-
ton. Eastern Europe, from Finland to
the Persian Gulf, is as important for
your national life as Alaska or the Pana-
ma Canal If you permit us to be crushed
by the totalitarian states inevitable un-
less you provide us with the necessary
material if we are forced into war, your
national life will be tremendously af-
| fected. You will be in the position we
are now in. That is to say, you will be
compelled to treble or quadruple your
military expenditures to ward off aggres-
sion against the American continent,
| which will become an island when Brit
| aims and Frances powers are crushed.
| Our present military expenditure is
caused by Mussolini's and Hitler's de-
mand for colonies and their desire to
dominate the whole of Europe"
There is no doubt that there is no
signed or other kind of an agreement
between President Roosevelt and the
democratic governments of Europe.
| There are not even formal promises of
| what this Government may or may not
| do in the event of confagration in Eu-
| rope this spring. But every Frenchman
and every BriISher is convinced that
| President Roosevelt and large section
of the American people realize the con-
sequences of defeat of the French and
the British in conflict with the die
tatorships. Both liberal states keep the
American government fully informed of
moves made in Europe. Every communi-
cation sent to Washington contains the
same alarmist note: Everything indi-
Gates that France will be attacked in
Djibouti in the early days of this spring.