Wairarapa Times-Age TUESDAY, MAY 31, 1938. AVERTING WAR IN EUROPE.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 May 1938, Page 6

Wairarapa Times-Age TUESDAY, MAY 31, 1938. AVERTING WAR IN EUROPE.

from Czechoslovakia, which commands anxious attention from so many quarters today as the possible starting-point of another European war, is better, on the whole, than it has been. Another election weekend, the second of three, had passed without any untoward incident of the kind that might have played the part of the spark in the powder-magazine. At the same time some promising preliminary progress is reported in negotiations between the Czechoslovakian Government and the Henlein Party representatives.

Some people may be inclined to add to the tally of improving news the report of an interview which Herr Hitler gave before the Czech crisis last week. The Fuehrer, as he is reported, denounced as liars those who said he wanted war “when 40 minutes after the outbreak bombers would have done more damage than could be repaired in half a century.” His following observations, in some respects, were admirable: —

Mankind’s task (he said) is to make peace impregnable. Germany is ready to participate to the fullest extent in that task. I should rejoice in an Anglo-American-German understanding, which I believe would be decisive for world peace. We must be careful what we sign, but when we have signed we will honour the signature regardless of the cost.

If it carried no reservations, this declaration might well open the way to the firm consolidation of peace to which many nations have aspired vainly since the Great War.

The question of colonies, to which Herr Hitler referred specifically, should not be allowed to stand in the way of a peaceful understanding between Germany and other nations. Given the right conditions of stability and confidence there could be no good reason for refusing to go at least a considerable way towards satisfying Germany where her colonial demands are concerned.

It is at the moment much more important, however, that Herr Hitler’s declaration plainly was not a straightforward and unqualified peace overture. The true character of the declaration appears both in what it included and in what it left out. The advocacy of an Anglo-German-American understanding might very well be regarded as a repetition in a new form of Germany’s demand for a free hand in Europe—for unrestricted freedom, that is to say, to proceed with the subjugation of small European nations.

The significant gap in the Fuehrer’s declaration was the absence of any mention of France or Russia. Presumably he adheres to his refusal to have any dealings with Russia, or with other nations which are allied or associated with that country. In these circumstances, Herr Hitler is nor so much offering genuinely to participate in the task <d making peace impregnable as to bring abonl: a new alignment of opposed and hostile camps.

For the maintenance of her independence, Czechoslovakia relies less upon her own limited strength than upon her alliances with France and Russia and upon possible support from Britain —support which the British Prime Minister (Mr Chamberlain) has indicated might or might not be given.

If Herr Hitler is sincerely intent, on peace, he will recognise and deal with these factors in the situation. Ignoring them he indicates instead that, in spite of his declared perception of the utter futility and calamity of war, he is still prepared to play with fire. Nothing short , of broad-based and comprehensive international agreement will make an end of the dangers to Europe and to the world that centre today on Czechoslovakia.