The Gisborne Herald. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED “THE TIMES." SATURDAY. SPTEMBER 2, 1939. AN UNJUST ATTACK

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20032, 2 September 1939, Page 4

The Gisborne Herald. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED “THE TIMES." SATURDAY. SPTEMBER 2, 1939. AN UNJUST ATTACK

The news of the sudden collapse, through no fault on the part of Mr. Chamberlain, of the overtures between Britain and Germany for an amicable settlement of the Polish problem must have come as a profound shock to millions upon millions of well-wishers, who had pinned their faith to the belief that complete success would, ultimately, be attained no matter how tortuous or how difficult the path to peace might prove. Nothing could now be more plain than that never at any stage of the negotiations could there have been any real evidence that Herr Hitler was imbued with the intention that the dispute should be settled by conciliatory methods and in a just manner. The crisis would appear to have reached its climax when Germany forwarded to Poland an invitation —or was it not a peremptory demand?— that she should, at very short notice—a matter of 24 hours or so—send to Berlin envoys armed with full powers immediately to conclude with her an agreement based upon terms so onesided as to be totally unacceptable to the Poles. A further discreditable feature of the sorry business was that Poland (as well as Britain and France) was not officially informed of these cast-iron terms until after they had been broadcast throughout Germany and the people of the Reich had been led to understand that they amounted to the last word on the matter as far as Germany was concerned. That Poland .should have declined point-blank, to attend a conference such as Herr Hitler and his war lords desired—a conference that would have been required ■to be held, in an atmosphere lacking in goodwill on Germany’s part—could not occasion surprise, seeing that, under such conditions, a worth-while discussion would have proved quite out of the question. It is not open to doubt but that Germany would have insisted, at the pistol point (as it were), upon the instant return of Danzig and upon the taking of a “staged” plebiscite which would, assuredly, have, subsequently, permanently deprived Poland also of the Corridor. In other words, Poland would have been faced with only one alternative—horrible red war—if she had refused to place herself completely at the mercy of Germany.

If Herr Hitler had been sincere, his procedure would, of course, have been very different. In that event, he would have offered a truce in order .hat Germany’s claims might be freely and fully considered. It would also have been a dignified (and honourable) action on Herr Hitler's part if be had suggested some neutral capital as a possible suitable locale for the discussions. But nothing would seem to have been further from his mind. The painful turn of events which has since been witnessed followed, after all, upon the lines of Germany’s earlier threatenings. Any excuse—alleged border “incidents” —proved sufficient for an. immediate display of massed hostility against Poland. Danzig, it is cl,ear, became an easy prey to the Hun hordes, for, in fact, the city was already, to all intents and pur poses, in Germany’s hands. And then, in order to prevent Poland from interfering, dermany lost no time in putting into full effect her campaign for a lightning stroke designed to paralyse Poland with as little delay as possible. To-day, Poland is in an unhappy plight similar to that which confronted equally brave little Belgium on the eve of the Great War of 1914-18. Her independence has been violated, and the very conditions in which Britain and France under their solemn pledges, require to go to her aid have arisen. It cannot be doubted, in this connection, that; all along, Britain and France must have been mistrustful of Germany, otherwise they would never have made tnc extensive preparations which, happily, placed /hem on a complete war footing, ready to meet the very emergency that has now occurred, but which they had hoped, albeit in vain, Germany would assist them in obviating.

The world at large will not be deceived by Herr Hitler’s impassioned plea that Germany is, to-day, merely defending her national honour. Herr Hitler would have it believed that Poland dot only refused a peaceful settlement with Germany on terms but also took the first step in appealing to arms. Both these outrageous claims will be dismissed at the bar of world opinion, on the

ground • that they are entirely false. Herr Hitler's intention to wrest Danzig and the Corridor from Poland at all costs had obviously long been “cut and dried.” It was, unquestionably, on that account that all democratic countries had lately become so solidly hostile to further concessions to totalitarian aggression. In a recent address, for example, President Roosevelt declared that “peace can be obtained only by non-aggression” and added that, if law and order were to prevail throughout the world all nations would require to obey the ancient Scriptural admonition “not (without permission) to move our neighbour’s landmarks, nor to encroach bn his metes and bounds.” Germany’s latest crime cannot be overlooked, however much Herr Hitler may be anxious that her onslaught upon Poland shall be regarded only as a “punitive expedition.” Left, unaided in the defence of her rights and liberties, Poland could not possibly 'escape the fate of being “carved up” by the German “butcher.” In her hour of need, Poland will, indubitably, receive at the hands of Britain and her Allies, all the help that she will need—if diplomacy should now finally fail—to aid her in releasing from her throat the grip of her unscrupulous aggressor. Once again, the onus of starting a tremendous conflagration will, unquestionably, rest upon Germany if she should definitely refuse to retreat from the intolerable stand that she has now taken up.