Evening star., 1939-07-09
Surprises Due in Near Future
AS Danzig Climax Approaches
Poland Reported Determined to Fight for Danzis
and Corridor, but What British
Will Do Is Mystery
Bv Constantine BrOwn.

Forthcoming weeks will offer the world
painful surprises if the consensus in dip
lomatic and political quarters in Wash
ington is accurate.
Long before reports of the German
concentrations at the Polish and French
borders were printed in the world press
the State Department knew that this
was going on. 1t knows more: that the
whole of the. Italian defenses are sub
ordinated to the Berlin general staff;
that German specialists and troops are
located at the most important Centers in
Italy, and the Italian possessions in
North Africa; that Italian troops in AL
bania are being reinforced now and that
Greece has been warned against taking
the advances of the French and the
British too seriously. Mr.. Hulls men
also know that most of the crops of the
Danubian states already have been pur-
chased by the axis and the necessary
steps taken to prevent any kind of
sabotage on the railroads, highways and
the Danube to stop their reaching Ger
many and Italy.
The question of Danzig and the Cor
ridor is approaching a climax Even the
wishful thinkers in the British cabinet
seem to have no doubt about it and
have been telling the State Department
and Ambassador Joseph Kennedy of this
for the last two weeks. The occupation
of Danzig and the Corridor was sched-
uled for late last March, but the mes
+o tr,o
dictators appear to have made them
think the situation over carefully and
decide that some further preparation is
necessary before the coup can be made.
Doubt New Peace Appeal
Those in close touch with Mr. Roose-
welt seem to doubt that the President
will find it eXpedient to repeat the April
IA feat 1t would make no impression
on the axis, which sees in the weakness
with which Britain has handled the
Tlentsin situation a definite sign that
Britain can do nothing.
The administration, however, believes
that its neutrality bill. dispensing with
the embargo on arms and ammunition
in the event of war might worry the
totalitarian states once more and pos
sibly delay the forthcoming crisis.
Secretary Cordell Hull has abandoned
all Work-even on his beloved reciprocal
trade agreements-to concentrate ex-
clusively on the passage OF the new
neutrality bill.
The reports of observers abroad indi-
cate that Poland is determined to fight
for Danzig and the Corridor at all
costs-even if Britain gives eleventh.
hour counsel of moderation. France,
the same reports say, will not be I'M
peded by Britain's attitude, but will do
whatever is in her power to go to the
rescue of her Eastern allies. Poland and
Rumania But there is grave doubt
even today as to what Britain may do.
Urge Hitler to Be Patient.
The so-called strong speeches of the
British leaders, Neville Chamberlain and
Viscount Halifax, make little impression
in Washington. 1t is known here that
the two British statesmen, while talking
loud, are still hoping that some kind OF
agreement based on reciprocal trade ad
vantages will be possible with Hitler and
Mussolini. While Lord Halifax and Mr..
Chamberlain are shouting in public that
Britain is ready to fight. Sir Neville Hen
derson, Britains Ambassador at Berlin,
and distinguished city leaders are trying
to persuade Hitler that brute force will
bring him no advantage and that even
now it is possible for him to obtain all
he wants-within reason-if he has the
patience to wait
The same argument which Hitler pre-
sented to Mr. Chamberlain at Berch-