Hitler's Timetable

Military advances are marked by the mile; diplomatic advances by the country. Germany's diplomatic march through Europe last week was faster than the British reconquest of Africa. With a tiny squeal of protest, Yugoslavia slipped sidewise into the Axis tent, leaving Greece in peril of being dragged there by the hair (see col. 2). Although Turkey made it clear that she would fight back if she were attacked, Turkey made it almost as clear that she would not fight for Greece.

France announced that her Navy would convoy food from abroad to the ports of unoccupied France, a move which will either put a leak in the British blockade or bring the French and British Navies into conflict again. In Paris Vice Premier Admiral Jean Francois Darlan closed a deal under which Germany will help to run French industry (i.e., direct it). From Morocco General Maxime Weygand rushed to Vichy, lunched with Admiral Darlan and assured the new boss that he was no foe of "collaboration." After the luncheon a communique announced that France would defend "any part of her Empire alone." Since Great Britain has forces in Palestine on Syria's frontier, and since Emir Abdullah of neighboring Trans-Jordan came out for Britain last week (see p. 27), this warning seemed directed at Great Britain.

Adolf Hitler was moving fast to consolidate Europe for his grand offensive. But he did not neglect the rest of the world. In Tokyo Foreign Minister Yosuke Matsuoka packed to go to Berlin by way of Moscow, preceded by Germany's Ambassador to Japan, General Eugen Ott. On this trip Japan's part, if any, in the offensive will be settled. And so, perhaps, will the long-awaited Japanese-Russian non-aggression pact, which to Japan would mean Southward Ho!

To the U. S. Adolf Hitler was also attentive. In Washington word spread (doubtless from the German Embassy) that Germany was supremely confident of victory, that Germany was not worried about U. S. aid reaching Britain in time, that Germany would not let herself be drawn into war with the U. S. This sounded a great deal like the sort of talk Germany gave Great Britain after Munich, and Germany doubtless hopes the U. S. will swallow it as Britain did then.

Stubborn Greece and friendly Spain still remain between Hitler and the united Europe he wants. In the Hitlerian timetable their fate was probably due to be settled before Yosuke Matsuoka gets back to Tokyo. His round trip will take at least a month. Last week Germans were told to make no railway trips which are not urgent during April, and Labor Minister Dr. Robert Ley ordered factories to give no holidays between April 6 and 20.

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