Sept. 15.
It would be the height of imprudence to) seek for one moment to gloze over the seriousness of the situation as it has now developed in Europe, and while at the time of writing it appeared that there was still a chance that war might be avoided, it must admitted that the chance is a very small lone. Developments on Tuesday are not to be taken as arising immediately out of Herr Hitler's, speech at Nuremberg on Monday, {though it is apparent that what he said, and the manner in which he said it has encouraged Herr Henlein to take the line -he has. Towards the end of last week it was reported that a substantial increase in the number of incidents, for which it was alleged the Sudeten Germans were responsible, indicated cither that the leaders were unable to maintain that discipline over the party which has been one of the outstanding features of the whole crisis, or that they had lifted the ban upon such irregularities jealculated to bring about clashes with the [Czechoslovakian authorities. On Tuesday conditions had deteriorated to such an extent, that Prague instituted the equivalent of martial law, for the purpose of' restoring order, Before the day had ended Herr Hen-loin had delivered a demand to the Government demanding tine lifting of the regulations within six hours. Well within the time laid down the Government indicated that it could not agree to it, though it became apparent that the door was. not closed to further negotiations. Later it was announced that Herr Henlein considered that in the circumstances further negotiations were impossible. Lord Runciman appears to be the only connecting link between the Czechoslovakian Government and the Sudeten Germans jand the position is just about as grave as it possibly can be short of an actual outbreak jot war. The seriousness of the situation is enhanced by the fact that since Monday a dangerous consideration has been imported into the dispute by the practical rejection of ithe Prague concessions, in favour of a plebiscite and the demand of the Sudetens for the right of self-determination.
That that was always at the back of Herr Henlein's mind must be accepted. The concessions which Prague has been persuaded make have been considered as signs of weakness by its enemies, and weakness not jonly of the Czechoslovakian Government, but also of France and Great Britain. And so the greatest bluff of the crisis is being attempted. That it is a bluff seems apparent, for while there can be no doubt that Germany would go to the assistance of the 'Sudeten Germans, it is clear that it is hoped by this threat of' war to bring upon Dr. Hodza that last ounce of pressure which should bring about that abject surrender without which the desires of Herren Hitler and Henlein can never be fully satisfied, and 80 avoid the actual outbreak of hostilities.
Already the casuistical argument is being heard that. it is foolish and deplorable that the fate of some three-and-a-half million Germans should be responsible for plunging the whole of Europe into war, the suggestion being that it would be better to give way than plunge into that catastrophe which is thus threatened. But if every European disagreement is only to be settled under the guns of war, if principles, honour and international morality are to give way before every threat of force, mankind will have, reached so low an ebb that it will hardly be Jable to call its soul its own. There is also fa tendency to be noted in the press of ccrtain countries to regard this present struggle jas the battle between democracies and totalitarian states. That the dressing of the opposing sides gives some support to the sug-[gestion cannot be denied; it is, however, wholly wrong to believe that the present crisis is one between ideologies as such, but rather the result of an issue in which international morals are at stake. 'Thus the Czechoslovat kian dispute is not to be placed in the same leategory as the civil war in Spain, where' Fascism and Bolshevism have indeed locked horns, but rather one in which international spiritual values are deeply involved.
Herr Henlein by his action in issuing such a demand on the sovereign government of his country did something which could only meet with rejection, no matter in what graceful terms that fact may be expressed. He could not have believed for one moment that there could have been any other result. It was a desperate action which could have only the worst possible effect on an already dangerous situation, and the responsibility which he has taken upon himself is indeed la grave one. Equally heavy is the burden which has thus been thrust upon Herr Hitler. On the face of it, it would appear that no more concessions can be made by Prague, and it is not to be believed that either France or Great Britain - would desire the Czechoslovakian Government to do more than it already has. The next move is still with the Jeader of the Sudetens, and if the plains of Europe are to resound to the marching of troops, if nations to be plunged into all the misery and suffering more hideous than that endured during the Great War, he Jand the people behind him can alone decide. If it comes it will be a war very easy to start, but in all probability most dificult to stop. It is possible that there are very dark days ahead, days in which the determination and fortitude of humanity will be most severely tried. There is no one who will not hope that, even at this late hour, this dreadful ordeal may yet be averted; but if it is not, if the only settlement possible is by arbitra ment of war—which has never settled any~ thing in the past, and will not now—then it, will have to be met with all the calmness and determination possible. There is no evidence available from either London or Paris that the war spirit has in any way been sedulously fostered. There are, on the other hand, signs a calm acceptance of whatever may follow [which is infinitely more dangerous. That Germany docs not desire war may be readily accepted. That, however, is equally true of Great Britain and France, but it is wholly inconceivable that cither of both of the latter should abandon what they believe to be a righteous cause simply because of a threat which they are quite capable of meeting,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.