Site Ed. Note: It would be a scant five days later that Hitler would indeed make it obvious to the world that first, he would never maintain a promise for long, and second, that, indeed, he meant to have all of Poland--just as Cash had indicated on this date in "The Bargain". The only thing Cash possibly miscalculated, (though one can read his remarks two ways, especially in conjunction with "War Prospect" of August 19), was that Hitler did go ahead and take it at a sweep rather than by piecemeal as with Czechoslovakia.

Benito Plainly Doesn't Care For A War, Thankee

The unhappiest man in sight in the current clamors has unquestionably been Signor Benito Mussolini, by the Grace of God, Lord Duke of Italy. While the German propaganda sheets have thundered and roared, the Signor's have been notably subdued. Instead of indulging in big words and loud threats after their invariable fashion before this, they have mewed away for the triumph of "reason" and "peace."

That must nearly have choked the Signor to death, for no man on earth loves swagger and brag better.

But he had reason. His people don't like the Germans. And they emphatically don't want war, trustingly look to the Signor to keep 'em out of it. Yet it looked and looks as though he would be bound to go along with Hitler if war did or does come.

But war, as the great good man knows, means particular grief for himself and his country. The first objective of the Allies would certainly be to take Italy to the cleaners as swiftly as possible. The French Army would come pouring down through the Alps, the French and British air fleet would concentrate on the great Italian industrial establishments in the Piedmont and the Lombard plain, and the British and French Navies would methodically set about hunting down his navy and destroying his coastal cities. And Italy is mostly coast.

And even if in the end he and his German ally won, his troubles would be just beginning. Italy would be a ruin, filled with chaos. And worse still, he would be reduced to being the tail to the German kite, would probably have to stand for seeing his country made over into a German colony, with himself cast for the role of a minor satrapy at best.

That long sigh, masters, is Signor Mussolini praying that the "peace" plans go through.

After All, Admiral Yarnell Alone Can't Scare The Japs

Washington Merry-Go-Round reported a day or so ago that Admiral Yarnell, who told the uppity Japs, in terms they understood, where they can get off, was being seriously considered for the vacant Secretaryship of the Navy. The retired Admiral, the Merry-Go-Round went on to say, "not only won the wholesome respect of the Japanese" but has an extensive knowledge of the Far East.

Well, anybody who can command a respect of the Japs may be sure of his place in the regard of the American people. But there is plenty of room for the premise that the appointment of Admiral Yarnell to the late Secretary Swanson's place would be putting the cart before the horse.

After all, the Japs are even now overrunning China. And the British have been given the bum's rush out of Tienstsin, and apprehend similar or worse treatment in Shanghai and even in the Royal Crown Colony of Hong Kong. And if that comes to pass, nobody, in enjoyment of his full senses, could fail to foresee that it will be our turn next.

Before we engage a Secretary of the Navy principally to stand up to the Japs and tell 'em what's what, we've got to make up our minds what is what. In short, are we going to back down, concealing our humiliation with the best face possible, or stand up? If the first course, Admiral Yarnell's talents would be wasted. If the second, the Admiral is the man to pass along the word to the fleet at Pearl Harbor.

J. E. Hoover Jumps Dewey's Claim To Campaign Glory

Louis (Lepke) Buchalter must be a Democrat. Or, more likely, being an industrial racketeer, a New Dealer. And he has certainly muffled the thunder of Tom Dewey, New York County's district attorney and leading candidate for the Republican Presidential nomination.

Dewey took out after him first, nominated him Public Enemy No. 1, and for three weeks was chasing him with all the detectives he could get his hands on and a $25,000 cold cash reward. The hounds of the law bayed and the whole country watched the chase build up. Lepke was reported to have been seen in practically every part of the United States from Bangor, Maine, to the Everglades. Then the FBI stepped in.

John Edgar Hoover himself moved to New York and took charge. First step was to demote Lepke from Public Enemy No. 1 to No. 4 status just in case Dewey caught him. New York County's $25,000 was matched with an equal amount from an FBI fund. G-Men and Finest sleuths trailed Lepke and each other at the same time.

Last night Lepke walked in and surrendered himself into the hands of--John Edgar Hoover, "personally." Such headlines as could be spared from the European situation chronicled the fact as a routine FBI achievement, and Tom Dewey's chance at publicity that would have been invaluable to a Presidential candidate, went glimmering.

Hitler Plays The Suckers With A Sardonic Game

According to Rome dispatches, Hitler's terms, as conveyed to Chamberlain by Henderson, are:

1 -- Danzig for the Reich.

2 -- Motor highway (presumably the fifteen-mile strip often mentioned) across the Polish Corridor to East Prussia.

3 -- Negotiations with Britain for return of Germany's pre-war colonies.

For that he is to pay:

1 -- A promise to let Poland enjoy free port rights in Danzig.

2 -- A promise to guarantee Poland's frontiers for ten years.

3 -- A promise of a non-aggression pact for 25 years with England.

The demands on Poland represent a falling back from the demand for the restoration of all Polish territory taken from Germany. But that is balanced out by the demand on England for colonies. Moreover, it is more than likely that the greater demand was made merely as a finesse by way of introducing the lesser demands.

In any case, they are exactly the demands he has repeatedly made on Poland. And they are demands which leave Poland at his mercy.

As to the value of his promises:

He promised in September, 1938 that when Czechoslovakia met his terms, he would be ready to guarantee the borders of the remainder of that country forever--swore that he wouldn't have a Czech in the Reich. In reality he never kept that promise but instead grabbed all of the country within six months.

When he carved up the remainder of Slovakia into the two provinces of Moravia and Slovakia, he explicitly guaranteed the "independence" of Slovakia for 25 years. Last week he took it over under a military dictatorship.

Six times already he has promised that "this is the last territorial demand I shall make in Europe." Six times he has broken that promise

When he took over Austria, he solemnly assured the world that he had no notion of incorporating it into the Reich. Within a week he incorporated it into the Reich.

Five years ago he entered into a non-aggression treaty with Poland, guaranteeing her present borders and the status of Danzig. Three months ago he abrogated that treaty precisely on the ground that Poland had refused to give him Danzig and the fifteen-mile strip across the Corridor for a "motor road."

The record says as plainly as anything can say that he means to take all Poland, a thing that will be supremely easy when he has his grip on Danzig and the Corridor--that he is repeating again exactly the same piecemeal tactics he used in Czechoslovakia.

And so what he has really done is sardonically to raise the ante again, all in the name of sweet reasonableness! He is not only going to get Poland, but in return for the great boon of taking it gradually, instead of at a sweep, he is going to have the colonies, too!