The Evening StarD FRIDAY, MAY 19, 1933. HITLER TALKS PEACE.

Evening Star, Issue 21415, 19 May 1933, Page 6

The Evening StarD FRIDAY, MAY 19, 1933. HITLER TALKS PEACE.

A “ I’.uurHUASK of President Roosevelt’s speech ” is a French description of Herr Hitler’s statement in the Reichstag, which it was feared would take a very different tone. Tho description does not exaggerate its peacefulness. Herr Hitler has been content to roar as mildly as any sucking dove. There is a difference between this pronouncement and tho forecasts of it, into which menace could bo easily read. The difference is greater from the swashbuckling offensivencss of Von Papen and the insistence on rearmament of Baron Von Neurath. President Roosevelt’s strong plea for sobriety and the consciousness of a world in sympathy with it, and resentful of the latest German extravagances,, quite evidently had their effect upon Herr Hitler, He “ accepts President Roosevelt’s great proposal.” No more than that can be needed so far as words are concerned. Future acts of the Berlin Government, of which Von Papen and Von Neurath aro prominent members, will show what tho words are worth.

Crazy nationalism, at least, will be cured for a little time. At that prospect the world has cause to be relieved. Tho now tone may last longer if tho French explanation of it is correct, and Horr Hitler has taken Signor Mussolini’s cue. No one talked more exciting bombast, setting international nerves on edge, than Mussolini in his time, but lie seems to have settled down now as a peacemaker. Germany, we are told now by Herr Hitler, is prepared unselfishly to participate in the work of settling tho world’s political and economic difficulties. She will tread no other path but that of the

treaties. She lias no thought of invading any country. Any attempt of that kind, it was recognised, could only be disastrous to her. A new war would be disastrous for everyone. If the German Government will act, as well as talk, in that spirit the way will be made smoother by it for the removal of Germany’s grievances. A good deal has been done already to restore her status. By the Locarno and. Kellogg Pacts she not only gave promises of security, but received them. She sits in the League of Nations. Reparations have been virtually abolished, and with their disappearance the war guilt clause of the treaty, on which they were made to hang, might by both sides bo allowed to lie forgotten. Tho Peace Treaty could never have solved tho problem of “ making political frontiers coincide with national frontiers there are too many races in Europe. The worst tragedy .of it has been (♦.it tho peoples that were, raised from subjection by it have not been loss vindictive or coercive towards others than were their past oppressors.

Mr Henderson believes that the prospect is once more bright for the Disarmament Conference. If Mr Roosevelt is correct in his belief that “ modern weapons of offence are vastly stronger than modern weapons of defence,” it should not be difficult for the nations to make a great reduction in tho first, given goodwill or the disposition towards goodwill. It should not bo more difficult to make economic adjustments. But nationalism cannot be allowed to run mad in any country without provoking in all those conditions of fear which are tho chief foe to any agreement. Several correspondents of the London ‘ Times ’ have protested against the notion that Hitlerism is in any way a revival of earlier Prussianism. An Englishman who has soon much of Germany since tho war declares; “ I know of no young German who would uphold tho ‘ kultur ’ of the pre-war epoch, Tho Youth Movement which arose at the turn of the century was a violent protest against it; this same movement has been diffused into the forces of tho national revolution precipitated by Hitler. . . . Tho new German nationalism is intensive and integrative, not extensive and expansive. If it becomes a menace to Europe our failure to understand it will share the blame.” Its language and acts to date, unfortunately, have borne tho closest resemblance to those of the old scourge. It would bo easier for tho Hitlerites now to take a saner cause if their leader and themselves had succumbed less in tho past to “ that old humbug, Oratory.” Tho excesses of the last three months had alienated tho sympathies of Britain, who had been Germany’s best friend. And it is not good for any Power to live alone and distrusted in Europe. The applause of tho Reichstag which greeted Herr Hitler’s latest pacific speech may bo tho assurance of a return to sanity.