Mehrer's Progress

Last week Adolf Hitler was given by his press the title Mehrer des Deutschen Reichs (Aggrandizer of the German Empire)--a designation bestowed on medieval

German emperors who enlarged the realm. What he has said and what he has done to earn that title make interesting comparative reading:

"After the solution of this question" he said on the Saar issue in the Reichstag on Jan. 30, 1934, "The German Government is willing and determined to accept in its innermost soul as well as external formulation the Pact of Locarno."

The Locarno Pact, which he held in such high respect, stipulated that Germany would arbitrate or conciliate any border disputes in Western Europe. After a plebiscite, Herr Hitler revised the borders of Germany to include the Saar Basin (see map)--area: 738 square miles; population: 812,000; resources: coal, iron, steel, heavy industries.

"I have removed the question of the everlasting European revisions of frontiers from the atmosphere of public discussion in Germany. . . . We have no territorial demands to make in Europe."

So said the Fuehrer, just after marching his troops into the Rhineland in defiance of the Treaty of Versailles in March 1936. Since the Rhineland was technically part of Germany, the militarization did not qualify as an aggrandizement, but was nevertheless a reassertion of pre-War boundaries.

"Germany has neither the wish nor the intention to mix in internal Austrian affairs, or to annex or unite with Austria."

To the democracies, who have always officially believed the Aggrandizer's words rather than his acts, it came as a great sur prise when, on March 12, 1938, his troops marched into Austria--area: 32,369 square miles; population: 6,760,233; resources: lignite, anthracite, iron, copper, lead, zinc, lumber, small manufactures, agriculture, gold reserve of $46,000,000. After the Austrian grab, the Mehrer said:

"The eternal dream of the German people has been fulfilled. . . . Germany wants only peace. She does not want to add to the sorrow of other nations."

To the sorrow of Czecho-Slovakia, and still to the surprise of France and England, Aggrandizer Hitler took the Sudetenland on Oct.1, 1938--area: some 10,800 square miles; population: some 3,500,000; resources: rich deposits of coal and iron, highly developed industries principally textiles, glassware, chemicals. According to Neville Chamberlain, the Fuehrer said at Munich:

"After the Sudeten question is settled, that is the end of Germany's territorial claims in Europe."

Last week, with the annexation of Bohemia, Moravia and Slovakia, Herr Hit ler's word proved as bad a prophet as ever. He grabbed 32,000 square miles, population of 9,250,000, new munitions (including the Skoda works), a large shoe industry, Pilsen breweries, gold reserve of $80,000,000.*

Having started with 181,268 square miles of territory and a population of 65,218,258, the Aggrandizer last week had in his hands a Reich far greater than pre-War Germany. The German Empire of 1914 covered 208,800 square miles and included 67,812,000 Germans. The German Empire of 1939 covers 259,375 square miles with a population of 86,590,491 --not all Germans.

Aggrandizer Hitler made no statements last week about being satisfied as to territorial demands. In fact, even Neville Chamberlain was inclined to doubt the Fuhrer's promises. Such countries as Poland and Hungary were not doubting his threats, however. When he arrived back in Berlin, Storm Troop units and loud speakers sang all day a song with the refrain: Today we own Germany, Tomorrow the whole world.

*Exclusive of gold held abroad.

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