Evening star., 1940-03-31

Hopes which President Roosevelt and
his associates entertained earlier this
month for a cessation of hostilities have
been dashed to pieces with the return to
Washington of Sumner Welles
Until it was definitely known that the
dynamic Paul Reynaud had become
Prime Minister of France, there still
were hopes that the sequel to Mr.. Welles'
fact-f1nding mission would be secret
but constructive negotiation between the
belligerent nations. Rome Palazzo We
nezia and the Vatican and Washington
were believed to be the spots whence
the peace talks would radiate.
The situation, according to the facts
Mr.. Welles had found in Europe, were
as follows: Hitler was willing to talk
peace-his own brand-and did not care
with whom he was talking. But he was
adamant regarding his demands tor
what he calls ''just peace He was
wholeheartedly supported in his claims
by the acknowledgement Signor Mussolini,
who indicated that if this war lasts
much longer Italy might become in
volved by necessity.
Daladier was bluntly opposed to any
peace negotiations so long as the allies
had not scored at least nominal VIC
tory over the Germans He could not
conceive peace pourparlers with Hitler
tlominally a victor. But there we're
members of his cabinet who were less
sanguinary. A good peace, they said
with France losing nothing, might make
of
gestion for token Poland and Czecho-
Slovakia Because of these defeatist ele-
ments in the French cabinet, Daladier
called for a new deal, handed over the
seal of Office to his friend, Paul Reynaud,
and withdrew to his beloved Saint Dom
Unique ofice-the headquarters Of the
War Department. Reynaud formed
cabinet leaving out all the friends of
Leon Blum and Georges Bonnet.
Cabinet for Active War.
The new French cabinet. containing
Socialists of the Right, is 100 per cent in
favor of an immediate, active war. It
may even adopt the suggestion of Da-
Ladder to start the ball rolling by attack
ing in force the German industrial cen.
ter with French bombers carrying in
cendiary bombs, instead of the propa-
ganda leaflets of the British Royal Air
Force
In Britain there was the same deter
mination to prosecute this war-n
more gentle manner, however. Mr.
Chamberlain and Lord Halifax have
horror of bloodshed and would not op-
pose peace pourparlers emanating from
Washington. 1t would give them a good
talking point with the French. If WASH
ington urged peace and offered to be the
go-betWeen, there was possibility that
Washington also would be the scapegoat.
The British took leaf from Aristide
Brands handbook by mentioning
officially, of course-a guarantee on the
part of this country for the territorial
integrity of the European nations. They
were willing, it is said. to 60 so far as to
accept MIR. Roosevelt's 1884 definition cf
what constitutes an aggressor. But the
principal objection of the British was
talking to Herr Hitler. In that respect
Mr.. Chamberlain was adamant. Hitler
must retire to Berchtesgaden and lead
tLtC l4C VI d ScllC1tllldll VI lclSuIc.
But Mr. Welles is said to have found
q kindred feeling to that of the new
French government among the younger
men of the Conservative party. They
believe that Britain, which has never
before been defeated, cannot be de-
feated now. And they, too, would like
to start more active war even though
they may have to suffer serious losses.
Hitler Moves to Extend Axis.
While the allies and their friends of
both hemispheres were pondering what
to do, and from Britain and France re-
ports were coming that they would fight
this war until the world was rid of the
constant Teutonic menace, Hitler was
busy with his axis. He sent Won Ribben-
trop to Rome to talk business and not
emotionalism with II Duce He obtained
the Italian dictators consent to extend
the axis from Rome and Berlin to Mos
COW, and eventually to Toxic.
Won Ribbentrop did not lose time.
Conversations were opened with both
the Moscow and Toxic governments.
In Moscow Stain appeared so elated
at the victory of his troops over the Firms
that the Germans had to remind him