Evening star., 1940-03-03

around the green table, his persuasive
powers would have induced them to see
their respective situations from q diff
ferent angle. Back in 1886 distin-
guished Washington newspaperman re-
vealed the fact that the President was
contemplating at that time conference
with Hitler, Mussolini, Chamberlain and
Leon Blum, the then French Premier
The story was denied after while and
events proved it not to be correct. But
the newspaper correspondent did reflect
the Presidents mind. Had such a meet
ing been feasible, Mr.. Roosevelt believed
he could have induced the heads of those
states to come to terms on a permanent
basis.
Mixed Feelings Noted.
The news of Mr. Welles mission was
received with mixed feelings in belliger-
ent Europe. The Germans were non-
committal, the British were delighted,
the Italians cool, and the French some-
what upset. The French are realists-
and Premier Daladier is a super-realist.
The peace maneuvers of the Germans
have been known to him, but the French
can grasp what peace at the present
moment may mean.
The French do not believe that Ger
many is at her ropes end. They know
that she can fight and her fighting Ca
pacity has been untapped as yet. With
their logical minds, the French realize
that Hitler has put through the program
announced in "Mein Kampf" with but
few insignificant changes. In the main,
things have gone for him with clocklike
precision. They know that Hitler would
make greater concessions to have peace
today than many anticipate. Not be-
cause he is powerful man, but because
he wants Great Britain and France to
sign some sort of treaty and demobilize
at once. The Fuehrer, like most German
high officials, is convinced that once
Britain and France issue the demobiliza-
ton order, it will be practically impos-
sible to call the nations to arms again,
say year after the peace agreement has
been signed.
Roosevelt Willing to Gamble.
One plan is to play with the Ger
mans and bring about what might be
termed an armistice rather than
permanent peace. The French, many
American diplomats believe are right in
their analysis of Hitler's plans But there
is the possibility that close cooperation
between the large nations. withthe adop-
ton of many of Secretary of State Hull's
IDEAS on reciprocal trade agreements
coupled with broad distribution of our
gold, might change some of Hitler's ideas
contained in "Mein Kampf" and induce
him to accept different course. Mr.
Roosevelt is willing to gamble on that
second horse.
So far as can be ascertained, the Presi-
dent-in the event Mr. Welles' mission is
succeSSful-Will work for a small confer
ence without many experts and what
nots; meeting of the heads of the prin-
cipal Substituted States, France, Great
Britain, Germany and Italy. decision
reached at such gathering could be
comprehensive and final And if the sit
uation required his presence where these
men are willing to get together, the Pres
ident is said to be willing to join them
1t must be recalled that before he sailed
on his recent cruise, Mr.. Roosevelt was
asked by reporters whether he was going
to see anybody at sea. The question was
put because of premature reports that he
might meet with the heads of the bel
ligerent countries somewhere tn the At
lantic.
The question appeared preposterous.
But Mr.. Roosevelt kept silent, merely
cautioning reporters not to draw hasty
conclusions. But there is vague-very
vague-possibility that before the spring
is over such a meeting might be brought
about.