Evening star., 1939-08-29
No Second Munich


Chancellor Hitler has had in his
possession since last night Great
Britain's answer to the German de-
mands flown to London during the
recent week end by Ambassador Hen
derson. Der Fuehrer is expected to
make prompt reply to the British
representations, though possibly not
in time for its submission to Parlia-
ment today, when Prime Minister
Chamberlain discussed the latest
phase of the crisis and Anglo-French
efforts to end it without war.
The issue thus still hangs in the
balance, with the question of peace
resting precariously on the lap of
the gods, where it has lain for the
better part of a hectic fortnight.
Despite large-scale mobilization in
all the countries principally involved,
despite in particular the provocative
tone of Hitler'S position and inten-
tions, as outlined in his communica-
ton to Premier Daladier, the guns
have not gone off. 1t continues to
be a war of words, as well as a
war Of nerves. Negotiations in the
form of diplomatic correspond
ence and parliamentary discussion
are undoubtedly supplemented by
even more significant behind-the-
scenes maneuvers. While all these
exchanges, public and invisible, pro-
ceed, hope of a bloodleSs end of Eu-
ropes nightmare cannot be aban-
doned. There is distinct promise in
the Berlin report that Hitler finds
the British note to be mot wholly
negative"
How sound or illusory is that hope
1t is now definitely for Hitler to say.
With Chamberlain's latest word be-
fore him, plus that of Daladier, the
Chancellor can no longer be in Slight
est doubt of Anglo-French inten-
tions. He knows there will be no
second Munich. He knows that while
London and Paris earnestly desire
peace, they are unwilling at this time
to buy it at the price of surrender.
Hitler's clear demand" on the Poles
for unconditional cession of Danzig
and the Corridor to Germany is not
to be met by supine acquiescence.
It Poland elects to fight for her
independence, Warsaw is assured
that it will not fight alone. The
full might of the British and French
empires will support Poland.
The Prime Minister welcomes
peaceful discussion of the Polish
issue, but insists it can only take
place usefully in "the right atmos-
phere." That atmosphere, Hitler has
been told repeatedly, is not created
by vast troop concentrations and
ruthless press propaganda designed
to generate and sustain spirit of in
timidation-the technique which the
Nazis have successfully and success
fully used in pursuit of their goal to
dominate Europe by force.
There is an old European proverb
that IAN end with terror" is prefer
able to terror without end" The
western democracies are now indu-
bitably OF that opinion. If they re-
luctantly resort to war; as a last re-
course to put stop to the hideous
sort of thing for which Hitlerism
stands, Britain and France will not
strip for action to defend a far-off
city in Baltic Europe, or even to pre-
serve Polish independence. They
will 90 into battle primarily and
fundamentally to crush Napoleonism
1893 model-to show Hitler and all
other exponents of aggression and
unrighteous conquest that mankind's S
patience with such enemies of civil
ization is exhausted.
That Der Fuehrer may at this zero
hour see that handwriting on the
wall and read it Alright is the hope
for peace to which the world must
now cling.