The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, OCTOBER. 28, 1930. SPOILING FOR WAR.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 October 1930, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, OCTOBER. 28, 1930. SPOILING FOR WAR.

Ip the story given, out by the cable news last week can 'be accepted as a true .state of the feelings of the German Fascists, then it may '.be expected that there is still in Germany a strong section of feeling spoiling for a recurrence of war. According) to the cable message the Fascist leader Herr Hitler explained his policy to a confidential meeting of supporters at a Wine House. According to details obtained from one of the participants Iby the “National Zeitung,” Hitler stated his first aim was to destroy France for ever with the aid of Italy and England. “I must tell the English at present that we are ready to share world domination with them. Thot is only tactics of course. I will deceive England, because world domination is for us alone. 1 have England in mv pocket, and need her for the destruction of France.” This is a kind of chess board policy such as emanated from Austria, and Germany when the Great War was sprung upon Europe in 1914. Austria had designs on Serbia, and easily won Germany over to her side. The- position was calculated to a nicety, even to England (being brought into the fray. Austria was pertain Russia would enter the conflict, and France would lie ready to co-operate with her new found ally, Russia.. 'The situation developed even according to these calculations and despite the devastating result,' there is this latest evidence from Germany of the public feeling corr'-'it. in the country. No doubt Hitler if truly reported, spoke very boin!’nsitica!lv. We may he sure lie has not England in h is pocket, a nv more than he is likely to use England to dTitrov France. After the lesson of 1914 r 1918. such thoughts, are surely fantastic. Rut it is disquieting, to road at those hints of current opinion in 'Germany. Ilerr Hitler has a strong political backing. His party holds over one hundred seats in the Reichstag, and is something of a power. His statement as cabled, it can well bo understood, was not tor publication, but for the edification of his followers. There is tin- palpable suggestion that some plot is afoot, which

indicates that the leaders of 1930 /are all too prone to follow the leaders of 1914. The history of the inception of lie war discloses bow feelings for revenge and aggradinbim'nt prompted the •beginning of thp war. Herr Hitler indicates in bis sir’ccli to bis compatriots that lie has designs on Franco, not for any wrong of to-day. but tor the victory of the post, ami above 'all, like the Ivafsvr, Herr Hitler thirsts for world domination. He associates 'England with his ambition, but lie is surely astray in suggesting or even thinking that Great Britain is similarly disposed. England lias made it plain that heir possessions are all she desires to bold, and even recently she has ‘shown her I ona tides by withdrawing from certain positions held in China—greatly to the regret of the Chinese populace who were fearful of loising the freedom they had enjoyed under British rule. Hitler uses the phrase that lie lias “England in his pocket,” a. suggestion of a very capacious holder indeed; but hie surely makes a. very false step in suggesting that it will Ibe possible for him to 'min his end over France by using England destructively. It is a ridiculous story, but it prompts consideration for the possibilities due to that peculiar continental composition which revels in plot and counter plot for international honours. Fortunately military aspirations are not encouraged as once they wore, while over Europe prevails the influence of the League of Nations which must, remain* a very serious check on the machinations of those of the Hitler type. The days for sudd/m surprises such as marked the opening of the Great War are parsed, and history will ibei much slower to repeat itself in that respect nowadays.