Evening star., 1944-02-20

But While this game OF power politics
is not alarming the administration in
Washington, there are definite and
strong indications that it is causing
more concern to the British government
than is shown on the surface
Britain is a European state besides
being far-fiung empire, and it stands
to reason that Europes problems are
closer to her heart than they are to ours.
The threat to the United States from
Europe can become real menace only
If the British Empire disappears and
Britain becomes a second or third rate
power in Europe. In the past our Gov
ernments have looked at the European
situation in this light.
On the other hand, Britain is wor.
ried about the menace of any supreme
European power as far as her borders
across the Channel are concerned and
also as far as her borders toward the
Indian Empire are involved Her hos
tility toward Germany which preceded
the World War was caused by Ger
many's "drang mach osten" (drive to-
ward the east and took definite shape
which was translated in military un-
derstanding with France and Russia in
1911 when the Germans began to build
the Baghdad railway aiming eventually
at the Persian Gulf and India.
Today the imperial aims OF the Reich
have vanished in thin air, at least for
one generation if not longer. The losses
suffered by the Reich have been such
that it is extremely doubtful. even If
Germany is not dismembered at the
end of the war, that she will have the
means to resume her plans of world
conquest.
But rightly or wrongly there are
many important British political men
who see in the rise of Russia as DOM
lnant power in Europe direct threat to
Br1tains Asiatic possessions. The Brit
lsh know, for instance, that in Iran and
in Iraq, where the British influence has
been paramount since the World War,
the idea of both countries eventually
joining the Soviet family of Nations is
gaining by leaps and bounds.
Bothered by Commitments.
The present British government, and
particularly Prime Minister Churchill,
has made many commitments which
were deemed essential and to Britain's
advantage when they were made They
are said to be hanging heavily on the
British government.
Ever since the end Of the Teheran and
Ceiro conferences, there have been
rumors from quarters which have proved
reliable in the past that before long
Mr.. Churchill may pass Thea hand to
some one who has not made any per-
sonal commitments. Sir John Anderson
has been mentioned as possible successor
to the premiership.
The British government is frankly
worried. 1t realizes that military VIC
tory over the Reich is certain But it
is beginning to have some doubts as to
its ef1ect on the future shape of the
British Empire. In the past there have
been occasions when nations obtained
military victories and suffered political
defeats. Britain has never yet been
placed in such position and according
to all indications she does not intend
to lose her first political victory now.
II Mr. Churchill does yield his present
Office and step out of the picture for a
while at least, the new man, whoever
he may be, will have his hands less tied
to commitments" than Mr. Churchill
and will be in a position to start a
reorientation of Britains international
policies on an entirely new basis.
The British want no less than the
Americans to do away with Hitlers re-
gime and end the Nazi danger. But
they keenly desire that this menace to
Britain and the world shall not be sub.
stituted by the nationalistic totalitar.
ianism of any other nation.
Diplomats of large and small states
are watching London with keener eye
than they are watching the various bat
tie fronts. So are the generals and adj
mirals in charge who are responsible for
the strategic details of our future mil
itary operations. The broad outline of
the military strategy of Britain and the
United States is the creation of its
political leaders, President Roosevelt and
Prime Minister Churchill. Should the
latter yield the seal of Office to some one
else. there is no question that the entire
British-American military strategy will
have to be re-eXamined