Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 1937. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 251, 4 August 1937, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 1937. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS.

Twenty-three years after the outbreak of the war “that was to end war” the world finds the nations as busily engaged in arming as ever. The restraining influence of the woe and desolation caused by the great conflict is gradually losing its effect and the League of Nations, brought into being with the object of preserving peace, has forfeited, by the weaknesses exposed in dealing with differences, the measure of confidence that was placed in it. Time after time its solemn deliberations have come to nought, settlements being brought about by processes differing only slightly from the diplomatic exchanges that were the rule before its institution. But while this is so, it cannot be denied that with all its shortcomings the League has played a part in removing causes of friction that might have developed into serious crises. The disappointments were due as much to exposure of unwarranted optimism in the power and prestige that would be attributes of the organisation as to any failure on the part of the League itself. But realisation of this does not meet the problem of international relationships. This problem is a practical one and must be dealt with in the light of facts as they stand. Turning from Geneva as the source of security, the Powers have reverted tb a position very similar to that prior to 1914. Germany distrusts the Franco-Soviet treaty; she is watchful of Communistic activities everywhere, especially in France and Spain. On the other hand, her renunciation of her obligations under the treaty has aroused the distrust of her European neighbours, despite her declaration of non-aggressive intentions and of purely defensive purposes in her rearmament. Italy, resenting the attitude of the League in regard to the Abyssinian war, has been drawn closer to Germany as a seceder from that body after a brief and eventful connection with it. The development of better relations between Britain and Germany have had a tendency to awaken anxiety in France, though the latter s interests cause her to act in support of Britain. This anxiety regarding the outcome of the new undertaking was one of the factors that threw democratic France and the Soviet Communistic dictatorship into what the Germans, on their part, regard as an unholy alliance directed against themselves. The Russians, on their part, explain their warlike activities by open assertions that they anticipate danger from both Last and West. Mr Chamberlain’s gesture to Italy, it is worthy of note, has created in Rome a better feeling toward Britain, so that in that quarter also there is a tendency to reproduction of the position in 1914, when Italy, with an agreement with Germany and Austria, was so well disposed toward the Allies that she refused to be drawn into the. conflict until she finally joined Britain and France.