Wairarapa Times-Age MONDAY, MAY 23, 1938. THE THREAT OF WAR.
THERE can be no doubt about the threat to general European peace that is raised by the developments in Czechoslovakia reported today. As. news stands at time of writing', the danger is plainly defined that Germany may make the disorders arising out of the Sudeten agitation a pretext for using force against the Czechs. A reported declaration by France that if Germany crosses the frontier of Czechoslovakia, “it will automatically start a war, as France will respect her engagements to .Czechoslovakia, a victim of aggression,” is denied, but hopes of averting a European conflict seem to depend largely on whether Germany is or is not prepared to abstain from aggression.
Whatever the immediate future may hold and with such vital factors as the attitude of Russia, which is allied to Czechoslovakia, and that of Britain still undetermined, the outlook cannot be called reassuring. It has long been difficult to regard the Sudeten German movement as anything else than a convenient cloak for the extension of German hegemony in Middle Europe.
That the Germans in Czechoslovakia have some grounds for claiming a liberal measure of autonomy is not denied. In a memorandum presented to the Peace Conference some 19 years, ago, Dr Benes, then Foreign Minister and now President of Czechoslovakia, stated that it was the object of his Government to make the Republic “a sort of Switzerland,” with self-governing units in which local administration would be carried on in the language of the local majority.
The building up of armaments and general unsettlement of Europe ever since the peace treaty was signed perhaps give the Czech Government a valid excuse for not having carried these undertakings fully into effect. At all events it is becoming increasingly plain that what Czechoslovakia is being asked to do today is not merely? to grant concessions of autonomy to the German minority within its borders, but .to submit, in its conduct of internal and external policy, to control by Nazi Germany.
Herr Henlein rather obviously is leading the Sudeten Germans as the agent of Herr Hitler and the Czechs as obviously cannot yield to the Sudeten, demands without placing themselves at Germany’s mercy. It has long been predicted that by fomenting disorders in Czechoslovakia, Germany would find an, excuse for intervening in that country. In spite of the soothing assurances that continue to be offered, there is much to suggest that the stage has now been set for this development. It was observed the other day by the correspondent of the London ‘‘Daily Herald” in Berlin, for example, that the situation between Germany and Czechoslovakia was admittedly serious and that ‘‘any disturbance in Czechoslovakia resulting in the deaths of Sudeten Germans might have dangerous results.” Today we have the news that two Sudeten Germans have been shot dead in a frontier town. The position in which France stands may be easily understood. Summing up the problem by which that country is faced, an American correspondent in Pans wrote recently:— In the event of a German coup against Czechoslovakia, the French must either run the risk of starting a war with the Reich without England’s immediate backing; or they must sit by and see Germany take another big-.step toward the constitution of that'powerful Germanic Mittleleuropa which nine Frenchmen out of ten are unshakably convinced can be but the prelude to another invasion of France. As today’s news shows, France is in no haste to declare her decision, but has reiterated that she will fulfil her obligations to Czechoslovakia. The outlook for all Europe is more ominous than at any time since the Great War. A PEACEFUL INVASION. HARD as they have been put to it of late to overcome the resistance of Chinese armies on the field of battle, the Japanese militarists may find it in the end still more difficult to counter such tactics als were employed by the Chinese in their first invasion of Japan by air. The story was told briefly in one of Saturday’s cablegrams of a memorable flight made by 27 Chinese warplanes across the China Sea to Japan, not to drop bombs, but to drop leaflets appealing to the Japanese people in the name of justice, reason and common humanity. In spite of the best efforts of the Japanese censorship, which no doubt will be stirred to redoubled energy, it may be expected that the story of this historic flight and its mission will penetrate to every corner of Japan. To anticipate speedy results from the appeal made to the Japanese to rise against the military invasion of China might be foolishly optimistic, but it may very reasonably be supposed that the appeal will do something to strengthen and stimulate whatever sentiment against the war exists in Japan. A grim and protracted struggle probably is in prospect in China, but in waging that struggle -the Japanese war lords have to take serious account of the home from. They have promised their people victory and great proliis from the invasion of China, bill for Japan Ihe war is working out in poverty and desolated homes. Disciplined and obedient as the Japanese people are, there is presumably a point at which their patience and .fortitude alike will give way. One of the best reasons for believing that appeals like those scattered by the Chinese warplanes ■will not be made wholly in vain is I hat Japan, engaged in her present undeclared war on China, is. going to unheard of extremes in suppressing the publication of facts and the expression of opinions.
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Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 May 1938, Page 6
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930Wairarapa Times-Age MONDAY, MAY 23, 1938. THE THREAT OF WAR. Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 May 1938, Page 6
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