Salt Lake Telegram | 1939-08-31 | Page 6 | It Might be worth The Gamble

It tf Might Be Worth the Gamble Gambre BACK of all tho the war threats In Europe today to to- day there are signs of a growing gro willingness willing ness to negotiate a broad settlement of ol Europe's difficulties perhaps perhaps along the tho lines of ol a a proposal pro p osal sal broached in England and commented on In these columns three weeks ago That proposal called for lor Britain and France to grant Italian German economic dominance of central and southeastern Europe a share in raw materials participation in colonial rule and repeal of ol the Versailles treaty war guilt clause That's a a. pretty largo order perhaps more than Britain and France would be willing to concede because of the danger such great concessions concessions concessions con con- cessions might only strengthen the axis and still sUll leave their appetite for br more unsatisfied Nevertheless there Is a definite atmosphere of ot negotiation and preparation for lor a major settlement In this connection President Roosevelt's Roose velt's oU offer r of ot U. U S. S participation in suggested i discussions for lor the solution of the problems which are endangering world peace Including i opening up channels of international trade and andi i making available raw materials to Germany i should be noted Hitler has Informed Britain he wants a complete and lasting German British under under- standing Chamberlain has replied that BritaIn Britain Brit Brit- ain ala will vill welcome the chance to discuss with Germany such a settlement provided there Isa is isa a a. lessening of tension and the Polish German Issue is settled amicably There Is ample room for diplomatic maneuvering maneu mancu- vering there which could delay the war crisis while negotiations proceed 1 I It is natural for Britain and France to prefer negotiation and some plan for settlement settle settle- sety- sety ment of ot Germanys Germany's claims for living space to war They have little to gain and much to lose In a war var They have found that out in the last 20 years with the failure of the costly World war and the tho repressive Versailles treaty to bring an end to Europe's troubles Suppose they should again defeat Germany after alter a terrible war and at terrific cost what would they gain gam They cant can't take anything i more away from Germany unless they subI subjugate sub sub- I the nation itself which would in fact tact I be moth more mor of a nuisance than an advantage I True th the menace menace of German expansion would 1 lp be removed for or a but timer at what a horrible price and arid after another 20 o years with the f fundamental tal problems still unsolved wouldn't the same story be repeated Right now the whole Issue of or negotiations for lor r such a broad settlement seems to rest with Hitler's announced determination to settle the Polish crisis at the point o of a gun gun Imm Immedi Immediately dl- dl before peaceful discussions around the conference table begin That Britain and France will not should not should not stand not stand for Hitler must back down to the point of ot accepting the Polish dispute as one of of many points to be taken up at such a settlement settle settle- ment nent conference c In an atmosphere free from 1 I threats and Intimidation If he he does back down a broad settlement is well veIl within the I bounds of ot possibility If 11 he doesn't he will wUl be faced laced with determined PolIsh French 1 I resistance which he can only break down by war Whether or not such a settlement possible In theory would work out In practice to bring lasting peace Is one of ot the great conundrums of history that can only be answered if the experiment Is made Because the alternative is so dreadful to contemplate contemplate contemplate con con- template because the desire for lasting peace and the stable progress It alone can bring is so strong in hi the hearts of men it might well be worth the gamble