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Hokitika Guardian, 22 August 1931, Page 4

In the course of an address at Christchurch recently on the present dangers to European peace, the speaker stated that although war appeared to be well hedged in by paper ramparts such as the Locarno Fact and the Kellogg Pact, people were living in a fool’s paradise if they imagined that such things were sufficient. It was not possible to have perfect pence when only thirteen years , ago millions were engaged in war. At present Europe was seething,, with-,the .old hatreds. There were ten chief dangers in Europe, any one of which might lead to war; the peace treaties, which contained the seeds of war; the economic situation; jingoistic nationalism; the minorities question • boundary disputes; the increase ip firmaments; the recrudescence of the theory of the balance of powefip dissension and revolution in States such as Germany and Spain; extra. European dangers; hatred, fear and distrupt, France, he said, did not want war, but desired the Versailles Treaty to be unaltered, so that she icould be secure to enjoy her gains. She believed in tjie balance of power, and thought her security was based on the hegemony of Europe which she possessed. She had an army of between four and five miljons, was stronger than Germany, and yet was in a “blue funk,” Italy was reaching out for allies to offset France’s balance of power, Mussolini had indulged in a lot of sabre-rattling, but his bark r was worse than his bite. He knew that Italy’s, credit was so poor. that she could not make Avar against any ,nation. The Balkan States were still in a turmoil, and Hungary, which bad been most severely treated after the pence, still harboured a desire for revenge. The case of Germany, however, was the saddest of all. At present her Government was held together only by pressure from without. The crushing burden of reparations had resulted in the formation of societies such as the Stallielm, the Reichsbanner and the Nazis. Any one of these might precipitate a revolution. The Germans were sick o-f the burden of reparations, and called the League of Nations the “milking machine,” for obvious reasons. There was a distinct possibility that they might withdraAv from the League. Tlie economic sittiation in Germany, brought about by reparations of astronomical proportions, was another serious danger. Germany, it AA r as stated, would have 7.000,000 unemployed next winter, and masses near the hunger line Avere ahvays open to propaganda. It was clear that there must be a revision of Avar debts. All these factors in Europe hat| had peculiar results. There Avns the recrudescence of revolution, the rise of dictators and the ill treatment .of minorities. The nations were spending £800.003',000 on armaments yearly. The solution to the present situation would probably be found in the World Disarmament Conference Avhich would take place in February, 1932, at Geneva. Sixty nations would be represented by 4000 delegates. If the conference fails, Europe Avill be heading for war. An immediate result would be Germany demanding the right to rearm, and probably Avithdrawing from £he League of Nations.