BIG AXIS AMBITIONS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20023, 23 August 1939, Page 5

BIG AXIS AMBITIONS

DANZIG MINOR POINT POLAND AN OBSTACLE LONDON, Aug. 18. Many observers, who are most anxious to see a peaceful and honourable solution of the Danzig problem, have • a deep-roofed feeling that Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini have big ambitions, involving Poland, Hungary, Rumania, North Africa afid the Mediterranean, .and. that it is merely a question of how the German-Italian plan will lead up to the achievement of these ambitions. Consequently, they are satisfied 1 that any German-Italian plan for a. solution in Danzig must be examined microscopically from this standpoint. They tend to the belief that Danzig is becoming a question of relatively minor importance for Germany and Italy, and' that they will not permit Danzig alone to become the cause of a general conflidt.

Nobody pretends that Germany can make Iherselif master oC SouthEastern Europe so long as Poland! remain's a Power, or that she could! hold Rumania, if her flank is constantly threatened by Poland. Thus, observers believe that Germany's intentions toward Poland and Rumania' are an organic whole, and :'hat Hungary, therefore, must figure prominently in Germany’s plan.

It is these factors that are causing authorities in Whitehall to take a most serious view of the Eastern European problem as a whole.