The accuracy of the view expressed in these columns on Saturday last, with regard to the undue speculative importance which is being given to the various utterances of the Dictators, could not have been more emphatically endorsed than it has been by the latest pronouncement of Herr Hitler. Days of anxious speculation have been shown now to be useless, for Der Fuehrer in fact said nothing new, and most certainly nothing which was not to be expected, If there is any striking feature about the speech at all, itis to be found in the frankness with which he spoke, and the fact that by denouncing the Anglo-German Naval Pact and the Germano-Polish Non-Aggression Pact he has relieved himself of the responsibility of breaking both of those agreements at some future date. Thus have gone two agreements dating from 1935 and 1934 respectively. The denunciation of the Anglo-Naval Pact was anticipated as long ago a April 4, for, cabling from Berlin on that date, the correspondent in that city of the "Daily Telegraph," reported "It is freely hinted in German political circles today that if Col. Beck, the Polish Foreign Minister, signs any formal military treaty with Britain Germany will probably denounce the Anglo-German naval agreement.
Any such action by Germany would, iè is Obvious, be a mere gesture. Britain has too big a lead in naval armaments for Germany to make any impression on it except over a very long period.
Herr Hitler has, therefore, merely put into effect a denunciation which was expected. There is consequently no element of surprise to be found in this departure, and certainly nothing in this one connection to contribute to the worsening of the European situation. The point may be noted, however, that this unilateral denunciation by Herr Hitler is completely to type, for in the exchange of correspondence which forms the Naval Pact, Herr Joachim von Ribbentrop, the German Ambassador wrote The German Government, for their part, are also of the opinion that the agreement at which they have now arrived with his Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom, and which they regard as a permanent and definite agreement with effect from today between the two Governments, will facilitate the conclusion of a general agreement on this question between all the naval Powers of the world. 1 Its permanence and definiteness seem to have rested, as so many other similar documents, solely upon what Herr Hitler conceive ed to be the necessities of the moment.
The denunciation of the Germano-Polish non-Aggression Pact has likewise to be set in its proper perspective. There is no reu-son, it is believed, to expect any immediate military attack on Poland, for this would face Germany with the necessity of fighting a war on two fronts. More likely is it that more subtle means will be employed for the purpose of wearing down Polish resistance. It is thought that as a result of their previous successes, Germany's rulers probably calculate that-the new anti-aggression bloc may be broken up in time by a campaign of threats, and intimidation. The maintenance of a military menace just across the border, sustained over many months will, it is apparently believed, be something that Polish nerves will not be-able to withstand, while it appears also to be thought that the expense of Poland's military precautions will have a disastrous effect upon the Nation's finances. As the "Daily Telegraph" correspondent, in the despatch already quoted Says "The next few months will, therefore, it is expected, be a period of great strain. Week after week, and month after month German propaganda may be expected to wage a campaign of attrition against the nerves of Poland, and the States associated with her, while the German minority has instructions to cause as much trouble as possible inside Poland."
It is the old, familiar technique. Disorders stirred up by agents provocateurs are made to assume imposing proportions for the purpose of justifying German intervention in the affairs of other nations which she desires to bring within her hegemony. But these things were realized as far back as April 4, and when this is remembered, the denunciation of the Germano-Polish non-Aggression Pact falls into its proper place as part of the campaign designed to force Poland to surrender peaceably what would now mean a general European war if sought through military intervention.
What is of importance then in Herr Hitler's denunciation of these two understandings is that it removes once and for all any illusions as to the degree of stability which these documents might otherwise have induced. Since Munich they have never been very strong, and their complete removal is probably as honest a piece of diplomatic work as any that Herr Hitler has ever done. He has placed Britain, with regard to the Naval Pact, under due warning, and Britain, France Russia and Poland have been served with similar notice regarding the validity of the Germano-Polish non-Aggression Pact. These many's international commitments are good only so long as the other parties acquiesce in whatever Germany desires, and that German goodwill only exists so long as the other nations supinely submit to the demands of the Dictator. All this has been apparent for a considerable time, but Der Fuehrer has now made it so clear that he would indeed be foolish who now persisted in thinking otherwise. Such being the case the parturition of the mountain has brought forth a very small mouse. The European situation has been clarified without being made worse. The application of psychological pressure upon Poland is something which will need to be watched with the closest attention. There may come a time when that in itself might amount to aggression, and it is only reasonable to expect that in addition to military assistance forthcoming in the event of actual forcible intervention in Polish affairs, it may become necessary for the parties to the antiaggression Pact to take such other steps as may offset the contemplated attrition of Polish nerves and financial resources. It is only reasonable to expect that every material and moral assistance should be given any country which is likely to be the victim of such machinations, for members of the anti Aggression Pact have assumed responsibilities which should not be merely dependent upon the perpetration of military aggression.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.