Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1917 NEUTRAL ATTITUDE.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 March 1917, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1917 NEUTRAL ATTITUDE.

That there la a danger of the amali nations adjacent to Germany being overrun by the enemy, and the countries in their tarn being treated after the fashion of Belgium and others, is a certainty in the mind of Lord Frenoh,, according to a London correspondent. The history of the war is that periodic raids have been made on smaller State® when Germany has acquired what sh e ! wanted not only in the way of raw materials aad produols, but also in. man-power, money and what not. The enemy is deep-dyed enough to attempt any excess. Germany has a way of her own of accomplishing what- she wishes where strength will help her, and therein we see the terrible menace to the world and civilisation if the German axiom of might being right ie to stand. That there is an ominous fear among neighboring States of the German menace is indicated by the preparedness of Switzerland, Holland, Denmark, Norway and Sweden. All these nations have made extensive military preparations to bar encroachment, but if the great enemy Bought to take them separately it would have no difficulty in accomplishing its diabolical designs. The great danger the States exist under is no donbt the shadow which accounts for these countries remaining nominally neutral. No doubt being adjacent to the enemy countries the population within the nentral States must be leavened with a good sprinkling of alien people, but apart from that internal danger, the externa! menace is the deciding faotor for the ohoics of neutrality. This contingent strength indicates the great and concentrated power of the enemy, whose conquest is more necessary than ever if the world is to drop back again into a prosperous period of peace and advancement, Germany has her own way of working her will when she desires. Probably if the whole circumstances were known, Roumania wbb precipitated into war deliberately to serve the endg of Germany. Holland is likewise in a most dangerous position, for-it would ap«

pear she is beirg compelled to play the part of a tool of Germany. The moment she tries to escape from the part put upon hdr, and the pressure may be imposed at any moment, Holland might be over-run and rifled as other conntries have been. Switzerland has a more natural defence in her mountainous country, but hei borders are liable to be violated at aoy time. Denmark is in danger of being wantonly invaded, also, if the war should be protracted, and Germany be driven to extremes for raw materials end other supplies to maintain her defence, The Baltic Sea might not be an adequate safeguard to Norway and Sweden if circumstances were to force the Germans to take action across the water, as across the border. Because of these facts and the tremendous dangers to national seonrity, which have been patent all along, it grows more and more difficult to account for America keeping out of the fray, it only as a moral intervention to aim at safeguarding the independence of small countries. The position which requires definite action, is now hastening to a climax, and neutrality cannot go on indefinitely.