The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, SEPT. 16, 1933. AH UNSETTLED CONTINENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 September 1933, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, SEPT. 16, 1933. AH UNSETTLED CONTINENT.

It is clear from the European news that tlie Continent is in a very unsettled, not to say dangerous, condition as regards the immediate course of events. Germany appears disposed to go from excess to excess, and is menacing the peace of Austria in a very deliberate manner, Austria, apparently, is sitting on a. volcano, with, the Nazi element growing—a development which counts in favour of German ambitions. The leader of Austria now seeks to turn the nation Fascism, and keep in step with Italy. This may not be acceptable' to France, a possibility further complicating the outlook. Hitherto- Britain, France and Italy have shown a willingness to side with Austria, which has been given leave to temporarily increase the military defence force. But Germany is said to be arming in a wholesale manner, and providing military equipment both in guns and planes on a large scale. This access of strength which must be done only at great cost, is very significant in view of the bankrupt state of the country and the expressed inability to meet both loan and reparation payments. There are /sinister aspects, ail so, in regard to Poland and" Russia, and generally . -astate of serious disqitietude which seems to be developing into a very Critical international hituiation. The peace in Central Europe aud the naval expenditure by the United -States and japan are now forcing Britain to strengthen its naval defence. Britain’s aim is for peace- and progress, but neither can be possible if the developments going- forward in Europe are allowed to reach the climax which is inevitable under present conditions. There can of course be no doubt as to the unity of the Empire, omitting the Irish Free State, where even there it is not unlikely there will be a swing in the political pendulum at no distant date. But Britain cannot police the seas and the world on her own account. There is the need for astrong measure of international cooperation, and the naval Powers if agreed could ensure- world peace. It would appear that sooner or later there must be a combination of the Powers to make the peace of Europe possible and permit the nations to settle down in tlie effort to achieve progress and goodwill, but the difficulty is to get a starting point on which those able to do so, could not effectively. There are peace treaties and pacts enough extant to impose peace on the whole world, restricting both military and naval aggrandisement also, but these appear to be more honoured in the breach than to the letter. It has been the same with the League of Nations. There is required some power behind the pacts and agreements to see that essential conditions are respected, and until that is created the state of unrest will continue, and the world will stand in jeopardy of another war. Conferences of late have been very futile because of internal disagreements. It seems impossible- for the parties to compose their differences and while that is so the hope foi a happy issue to ominous events is rather removed. Still the present efforts by France and Britain -in regard to a final disarmament effort seem to be not without hope.

In an address to teachers in London Lord Cydesdale, of Everest flight fame, referring to the value of sports in school training, said that athletics developed in boys that strength of body and mind that enabled them to go “all out” for anything they set out to achieve. There was often very little difference between failure and success in the competitive efforts <vl life, and he believed that little extra something which athletics developed often turned the scale in the right direction. The most difficult part of the Everest Expedition, he thought, was the exacting nature of the preparations in Britain. A great many .considerations had to he taken into account, not the least cf which was the test of the fitness of pilots and observers to see whether tliov were capable oi standing the strain of the height to which it was proposed to ascend. The test was made in steel pressure chambers at Famborough to see bow cacli could withstand the low pressures found at a height of 35,00 n ft. If the oxygon mask were, taken off at any great height a 'pilot or observer would be overcome in about half a minute. Hetried the effect of removal of his mark at 23,000ft,' and again at 25,000 ft, but be soon restored the mask, anti did not wait 30 seconds to see what

would happen t 0 him. The expedition was really only made possible by toe pthlelic sports that were .organised in the plains of India before the start for Everest.