Danger in Europe.

At time of writing it appears that the Treaty may have already been broken by German movements in the demilitarised zone, where the French look on with a degree of silence unusual in the French. But all the elements are present—not merely overt acts but the tense spirit behind them—for open conflict. Asia has taught Europe that it is possible to wage open war, and successful war, without declaring war. A Chinese boycott!—and the guns speak round Shanghai. Chinese banditry!—and the Japanese troops are quickly masters of Manchukuo and Jehol. Are violentists in Germany and Central Europe building up “incidents” which the French may utilise as the Japanese have done in Asia? Are the French “terrified” (the “News ‘Chronicle's” word) or grimly waiting for pretexts for a wax-by-instalments, yielding France at least the Rhine? Is Hitlerism strength, or merely truculence?