GLOOMY VIEW IN AMERICA

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22514, 23 September 1938, Page 13

GLOOMY VIEW IN AMERICA

RESOLVE TO REMAIN ALOOF LITTLE REACTION TO NEW PHASE “ALTERNATIVE WAS ANOTHER WORLD • WAR” CDTCITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.) (Received September 22, 9.10 p.m.) NEW YORK, September 21. The “New York Times,” in a leading article entitled “Epitaph,” says: “The smouldering fires set aflame by the Sudeten precedent light a perr spective that no government, even Herr Hitler’s, can survey without alarm. When all the facts are known, perhaps it will be clear that France and Britain, facing terrible alternatives, had less margin of choice than the world believes..

“Nor can any of us, after this, with light heart and clear consciences, cheer ’ causes that we are not ready to defend. The only Czech for whom cheers for Czechoslovakia have not turned bitter to-day is Masaryk, and he is dead.” The news of Czechoslovakia’s capitulation cannot be said to have caused, any new public or official reaction in the United States. It was virtually an anti-climax; yet there must be a realisation among all nations where America’s action or reaction in international affairs is considered important, that every day’s developments only deepens the basic resolve of America to remain aloof from Europe’s problems. Comment continues to be picturesque and variable, as it has been since the beginning of the Czech crisis.

The Washington correspondent of the United Press says that Mr Roosevelt and Mr Cordell Hull do not consider that the crisis has been dissipated, and continue to refuse to comment, because of the constantly changing conditions. Observers say that had Mr Hull and Mr Roosevelt involved themselves in controversy they might now find themselves in a highly unsatisfactory position. The New York “Evening Post,” in a leading article, issues a warning that all the Versailles Treaty boundaries can now be reversed. “All the nations are bitter and. disillusioned, far more bitter and disillusioned than they would have been if the League of Nations and the elaborate system of treaty guarantees had never existed,” the article states.

The New ; York “World-Telegram” says: “Anybody who thinks hearts are light to-day in London and Paris is sadly mistaken. What is-happen-ing in Central Europe is a colossal blow to France and Britain, and nobody knows this better than they. The alternative which Britain and France had to face was - another world war in which not only Czechoslovakia, but quite possibly the British Empire, might have disappeared.”

The Washington correspondent of the New York “Herald-Tribune” says that although military circles feel that the balance of power has shifted from Britain and France to Germany there is no tendency to berate Britain and France for their decision. It would cost 1,000,000 dead soldiers to penetrate the Siegfried line and perhaps would cost Britain her Dominions and territories in the East.

CANADIAN APPROVAL RESENTMENT , AT CRITICISM OF MR CHAMBERLAIN (Received September 22, 7.5 p.m.) MONTREAL, September 21. The “Montreal Star,” resenting United States criticism of Mr Chamberlain, declares: “The people in the United States are willing to fight for the Czechs to the last Frenchman. Britain and France could have gone to jvar, eventually entering Berlin. What then? You cannot permanently enslave 70,000,000 people. It is not Herr Hitler who has won, but the two great democracies, realising that they were strong enough to concede a point or two.” x A majority of Canadian newspapers agree that Mr Chamberlain courageously made the best of a bad job.

“COMPLETE SURRENDER OF DEMOCRACIES”

DISASTER PREDICTED BY MR CHURCHILL

(Received September 22, 8.5 p.m.)

LONDON, September 22,

Mr Winston Churchill said in an interview: “It is necessary for the nation to ‘realise the magnitude of the disaster into which it is being led. The partition of Czechoslovakia under British and French pressure is the complete surrender of the democracies to the Nazi threat of force. The acceptance of Herr Hitler’s terms involves the prostration of Europe to the Nazis.”

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