The Guardian (And Evening star,with which is in-Corporate the west coast Times.) TUESDAY,JULY 3rd,1923 EUROPE SINCE 1908

Hokitika Guardian, 3 July 1923, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening star,with which is inCorporate the west coast Times.) TUESDAY,JULY 3rd,1923 EUROPE SINCE 1908

M. Arochti: Gauvain, says a reviewer, is regarded as one ot tile toremost authorities on foreign affairs in France, and is a contributor to the influential “Journal do Debats.” “Europe From Day to Day.’’ in thiiteen volumes, extending down to March, 1919, consists m the main of articles which have been printed in that journal at various times. M. Gauvain had originally no intention of republishing the earlier material, but the events of 1917, France’s black year, caused him to change bis mind. The propaganda ot cue Central Powers bad seduously foiitoivd the myth of a peace-loving William 11., and of a Francis Joseph who was 11 k> “venerable and benevolent father of his people.” Despite all the horrors of the first, three veins of the Great- War the myth had not been entirely exploded. On occasions hesitation and vacillation wore visible in men charged with, a responsible part in the conduct of public, affairs. The venom injected by the ‘‘reptiles from across the Rhine’’ hud net been eliminated Irom French blood. At moments when the French body politic, was weakened by accidents or exhaustion, the poison liegan the work anew. “In order to counteract its effects, history is the liest specific.” The purposes cf the earlier volumes of tlks series is to remind M. Gauvain'* countrymen that for six years before the final challenge the Central Powers (that is to say, for Austria "'as little more than a tool) had systematically aimed at t.he dominaion of Europe. His chronicle begins with 1908, a year of profound significance, for it witnessed the Bosnian crisis, and furnished the first, test of the solidarity of the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente respectively. Austria annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina. This aroused Setvia and Montenegro to fury, for it extinguished for ever, so it seemed, the hope of a great Servian nation. Russia, as the protector of the Slavs, protested vigorously, and Britain and France also joined the protest. But although Austria's action was in defiance of the Treaty of Berlin, William 11. ranged himself “in shining armour” to use his own words, beside bis ally. Russia was in no condition to risk a definite rupture with Germany and Austria, and the crisis, after lasting for six months, had. a peaceful issue in the international recognition of the annexation. The coup had succeeded, but the success ot the Central Powers was apparent rather than real. Austria had added another unnssintilablo element. to an empire which was always on the verge of disintegration. Her via had lieen irrevocably antagonised. French suspicions of Germany had been quietened, for the designs of the Central European hloe were now clear. And the Triple Entente, although it had not taken up the gage, had presented a united front. The second volume 1“ concerned with the Turkish revolution which is important as setting the stage for the Balkan war. and the next with the Agadir incident in which Germany rattled the sabre more frankly. Then came the Balkan wars, and finally, as the inevitable climax, the Great War. even if Germany did not actually will the war in July 1914, her policy during the previous .six years had made it inevitable. M. fiauvnin’s point is that you cannot isolate this phenomenon or • that, in the recent history of Europe. All must be envisaged as a connected whole; to understand wlint is happening to-day, to know what will happen to-morrow, one nnfst remember "hat happened yesterday and the day before. M. Gauvain deals with the Great War in detail, and carries his tale down to the earlier proceedings of the Conference of Versailles. He is, naturally, extremely bitter against Germany, but his indictment is seen, in the light of later events, to lie justified. Nor is ho always complimentary to his own countrymen. Wherever lie detects weaknesses or complacency, or lack cf resolution in high places, he denounces them unsparingly, and ho can hardly find words strong enough apply to the “defeatists” pf 1917,

A coNFF.RENcr i- to bo held on Thursday night relative to possible harbor improvements. The matter is worth considering, seeing that the community has so much invested in the harbor, and at present no return is being received. The position is quite Gilbertian, an<l v.oro it net that the folk were paying the piper all tbe time, the joke might be appreciated. To have a complete harbor outfit with all accessories, and to have no shipping is a state of affairs calling for earnest consideration. The present situation is not business-like by any means, and if there is any way of remedying the position, than action along proper lines should lie taken. It lias been said that one objection to ship] ing hero is the shallow berthage. There is a good bar, and ample timber for export, while the community is also a free importer. Wellington and the North Island will oo anxious to retain the local trade, and if any barrier to regular steamer trading here etui be removed, then it is the duty of those charged with the conduct ot affairs to t ike up the matter and propound a scheme aitliiu tea-

JrsT at present the Harbor Board is spending a very large sum on the wharf but unless shipping is to be attracted, that outlay might as well I<- saved. If it is desirable to increase the How of

water at the berthage, the question of river diversion upstream will require to lie taken in hand. At the [iie.-ent moment tin- prospects of success in siie.ti action arc rather better than usual, as there arc signs of a fall making, and the shallow water on the south side might, be n-ed as a basis tor the work i f diversion. It. also -retus to be all «t;:)" i rt ill'.,' Hu ineiit l o consider now "hot her whitebait I reaches should be tiHion tile multi bank at all Ivhn‘. I ..i viugst ene -tleet. These fin riel's must, have some adverse elici t in llnml tune, mid everything which would tetaril the tb.’W of water to the main stream should not bo c.nimtcnaneod. Go too. with the removal of shingle from the riverbed that should lie permitted only from a certain line which would art as a. main tiench in flood time to draw the river back to its former mailt course. ate matters which should be taken into aoeiniut if the improvement of tbe depth of water at the lierthage is to be taken in hand.

Is regard to the possible timber exp rt from liore by shipping, there is some suggestion that the branch railway line to the wharf is to be abandoned. Ibis is n matter which should be siiicguarded betimes. There is no reason why, jointly with the local millowitcts, and the. North Island business houses, there should be some co-operative notion to secure the advent ot regular traders to the port, both for the supply of goods and the export of timber. Marl’oorougli mid Nelson, send a. considivahle amount ot cargo to the I.oast, atjd a steamer plying regularly In t.he timber trade could pick up a. good deal cf backloading at both Picton and Nelson, if t.he importers combined to enlorcc I heir preference. The Oonlorcme might well go into the matter to see if a. class of trade which forme! ly flourished here could not. he revived effectively. I lie trade of the district will expand more and more, mid there must be till increasing export ot timber to tbe North island. Hero is centred the main timber supply of the Dominion for the tut tiro, and Hokitika should set. its ]M>rt. in order so that it, will be available for a useful class of trade which will bo of value to the whole community --and which by the way is contributing by rates to the upkeep of the harbor now.