Salt Lake Telegram | 1938-03-18 | Page 8 | Vilna May Prove New Sarajevo to Set off European Explosion

Vilna May a Prove rove New I ITo To Set Off European Explosion NEW YORK March 18 IN Is INS Is little Vilna Vilna very very very old and none too clean destined clean destined to become a second The question is a logical one The parallel between the Polish anian strife of today and that between between between be be- tween Austria and Serbia just 24 years ago is strikingly apparent In 1914 it was Russia and mobilization mobilization mobilization mobil mobil- of the czars czar's troops that decided decided decided de de- de- de matters Eyes turned toward St. St Petersburg in those days They are focused upon Moscow today Poland has delivered an ultima ultima- tum Historical precedent demands that when one small nation resorts to such an extreme measure she has the support of one or more powerful powerful powerful power power- ful nations behind her Lithuania seems loath to comply Historical precedent likewise demands demands demands de de- de- de mands that no nation can afford to reject an ultimatum unless she too has powerful allies behind her Russia Rusia Backing Hinted Austria capitulated to fuehrer Adolf Hitler's recent ultimatum ultimatum ulti ulti- and later events proved that neither France nor Britain was ready to go to war for her If Lithuania Lithuania Lithuania Lith Lith- stands firm the logical assumption assumption assumption as as- would be that she has been promised armed support and that armed support could come only from Russia the military titan of the east It was in the spring of 1914 that Austrian anti-Austrian agitation in Serbia began to rile Vienna Vinna and in summer summer summer sum sum- mer of that year that the Archduke Franz-Ferdinand Franz was assassinated at Then came Austria's ultimatum backed by the knowledge Germany would support her Then came the Russian the mobilization the excuse that Germany needed needed and and the next step was war All AIl Europe Mobilized There is one salutary difference between conditions in 1914 and conditions con today Twenty-four Twenty years ago mobilization was a certain indication indication in indication in- in of war to come Today virtually virtually vir virtually vir- vir all Europe is mobilized Which means that the next war w will ll break out without much in the way of previous warnings or extensive preparations In recent years Poland and Germany Germany Germany Ger Ger- many have come close together The Theold Theold Theold old alliance between Poland and France was weakened when the latter nation threw in its lot with soviet Russia Jewish Anti Anti Jewish activity and a military military military mili mili- tary dictatorial rule have served to tomake tomake tomake make Poland in some respects al almost almost almost al- al most a fascist nation At least itis itis it itis is one firmly opposed to lo Russia and the communist doctrine doctrine and and GS as lS such it is automatically a friend of ot I Germany Between them Germany and Po Po- Po Po-I Po land could control the north of continental continental continental con con- Europe and throw up a bulwark against the advance of communism from the east There have been frequent reports of a projected diplomatic horse trade between these two nations which would ultimately involve the partition of Lithuania into German and Polish states