DRIFT TO WAR

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 136, 6 December 1938, Page 11

DRIFT TO WAR

INCREASING MOMENTUM

MR. PIROW'S VIEW

PSYCHOLOGICAL CAUSES

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received December 6, 11.10 a.m.)

RUGBY, December 5,

In a statement made on his return to London after his Continental tour Mr. O. Pirow, South African Minister of Defence, declares:

"Europe is drifting into war —a war which no nation wants, but against which every Government is

[preparing. Unless there is a complete change of outlook within the next month or two international tension will reach breaking point during the spring next year. "The tragedy of the situation is that since the settlement of the Czechoslovakian issue there is no principle at stake which would excuse a war, let alone make ifc inevitable. The drift to war is caused purely by psychological factors." REFUGEE PROBLEM. ! Regarding the refugee problem, Mr. I Pirow expresses the opinion that it is capable of comparatively easy settlement if it is approached in the right spirit; and he suggests that an international loan be raised by the countries of origin, but guaranteed by the other great Powers, to provide funds to take the place of the assets which refugees are forbidden to take out with them. But he finds that the right spirit is lacking, and thinks that the international attitude on the refugee question is symptomatic of a state of mind which is not prepared to make a substantial sacrifice for peace. "So long as that state of mind persists the drift to war—a drift with in-1 creasing momentum—will continue," he said. j It is understood that Mr. Pirow is to leave London on Friday for South Africa.