Evening star., 1940-11-17
German>Russian Cooperation
Consolidated by Berlin Talks
Hitler Sure Russia, Even if Not FullFledged Ally
Can Be Depended Upon to Remain Outside
Any Anti-Nazi Combination
By FeIi1 Morley.

ton, with the possible exception of Por-
tugal, which still resists Germany's con-
tinentaI supremacy. Before Hitlers new
order" in Europe can be established
Greek resistance must be overcome.
Italy, permitted to attempt this job in
the first instance. has not yet shown
much capacity for the task, The check
TO the Italian invasion Will of itself cause
little concern to Germany That nation
is not averse to seeing Italian military
inferiority demonstrated. But Hitler's
own plans will not permit an indefinite
check to axis control over the long Gre
clan coastlne. So German troops may
soon be expected to move into Greece,
either through Yugoslavia or Bulgaria,
if the Italian forces continue to be
stalled on the Albanian frontier.
Russian Consent Needed.
Such an offensive, however, cannot be
safely undertaken without the consent
of Russia. which with the aid Of Turkey
might theoretically cause Germany in
finite trouble in Southeastern Europe. so
it was undoubtedly to secure Russian
compliance in steps necessary for the re-
duction of Greece that Molotoff was in
vited to Berlin And there is equally
little doubt that the price requisite for
that compliance. which Russia is in posi-
ton to mark up to a high figure, has been
agreed upon in last weeks conversations.
The present is Hitler's opportunity for
really sweeping settlement with Russia.
He is not in the habit of failing to take
advantage of his opportunities.
The tragic mistake of the democracies
has been to regard Hitler as an empty
braggart, as an eX-paperhanger who is
fit subject for Iampooning, whose public
utterances can be dismissed as hysterical
and irresponsible raying.
Although this strange, indefnable
figure has already affected the life Of
every American, there are many intel
ligent people in this country who have
not even read "Mein Kampf" And of
those who have read it by no means all
have tried dispassionately to follow the
underlying logic or to appreciate the eX-
traOrdinary frankness Of its thought.
The logic and frankness are there.
nonetheleSs. Logic and frankness are
also to be found in every public speech
which Hitler has made even though he
has turned from denouncing ''the sub
human forces of Bolshevism' to welcom-
ing Communist leaders as partners in
his schemes. It seems to have taken
Hitler a long time to realize that he is
himself a Communist at heart. But there
are lots of people who honestly deceive
themselves without causing others to
make the mistakes in character reading
which have been so egregious in Hitler's
case.
New Order" Inevitable.
Just a week ago, at the annual Munich
rally on the anniversary Of the abortlve
Nazi ''putsch" of 1923, Hitler declared
that Germany with her allies today is
strong enough to stand against any COM
oination on earth So far as l have
seen, most of the comment passed on
that observation in this country was to
the effect that he was boasting to keep
/ up waning German courage.
BuI On 4NOFtiIlbCI o lIIG NOIl4Gl GIiNC
with Molotoff was already scheduled in
Berlin. The lines of agreement were
probably even then laid down. And it is
to be presumed that Hitler spoke, as
those who criticize his remarks did not,
with full assurance that Russia, if not
full-fedged German ally could be relied
on to remain outside any possible anti
German combination.
Fifteen months ago. when Germany
and Russia first announced their working
| agreement, few people took its implica-
tions seriously. Few realized that COM
bine of these two great Socialist states
would inevitably mean new order in
Europe, one which could be hastened but
could not be averted by war.
Last week the RJSSO-German combine
was further consolidated, with Italian
and japanese approval. The United
States, still free to consider American
| interests first, should this time be very
! sure that it understands the long-range
| implications of the developing German
RussianoJapanese consolidation.