Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1938. GOING TO BERCHTESGADEN.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 September 1938, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1938. GOING TO BERCHTESGADEN.

]£VENTS, no doubt, will speedily determine whether the British Prime Minister has done the right or the wrong thing in going to Germany to confer with Herr Hitler and try to find a peaceful solution of the present' crisis. The immediate alternative presumably was the course of action for which France and Soviet Russia are pressing—a firm joint declaration issuing a warning to Germany. There are many people who believe that had Britain participated in a similar warning in 1914, the Great War would have been averted. In the present crisis it is difficult to get rid of an uncomfortable feeling that history may repeat itself. According to one of yesterday’s cablegrams from London, however, the British Cabinet acted on the belief that a joint warning by the Powers might, precipitate the very situation it was desired to avoid.

Whether it be considered justified or not, Mr Chamberlain’s decision to dispense with ceremony and make a call on Herr Hitler —his stooping to conquer, as it has been aptly described—plainly relieves him of the reproach of helpless inactivity in face of an acute and developing crisis. Even while entertaining doubts, it is possible to sympathise with the cheerful Cockneys who signified in cries of “Good old Chamberlain!” their approval of the ' Prime Minister’s decision.

The wisdom of Mr Chamberlain’s tactics in seeking direct and friendly contact with the German Fuehrer is at best an open question. Reasons for rejecting this policy might have been found in the fact that by his action Mr Chamberlain runs the risk of being accused of countenancing in some measure, on behalf of Britain, the policy of aggression to which Nazi Germany is committed and which she is visibly pursuing against Czechoslovakia. The Henleinists may or may not have got out of hand in the attempted revolt on which they embarked a day or two ago, but that the Sudeten, agitation as a whole has been fomented and fostered by Germany for her own purposes is not in question. There, is not the slightest doubt that Herr Hitler could remove at a word every obstacle to a peaceful settlement in Czechoslovakia. It may appear in these circumstances that a departure from dignity, and indeed from sound standards of conduct, is entailed in conferring presumably on even and friendly terms with Herr Hitler.

Some people may fee], on the other hand, that provided war is averted and peace maintained on fair terms, the route of approach to these results is a secondary or minor consideration. The position cannot well be tested now in any other way than by the outcome of Mi* Chamberlain’s visit to Germany. Britain and the other democracies desire peace above all things. It is very necessary to remember, however, that apart from what is due to Czechoslovakia herself, no lasting peace would be obtained by abandoning that country to the fate Nazi Germany is actively conspiring and intriguing to bring upon her.

JAPAN AND GERMANY.

J£UT for the serious and tragic issues that are involved, there would be something humorous about fhe eagerness with which Japan has seized upon an opportunity to proclaim her complete sympathy with Germany in the latter country’s present predatory designs, and her readiness “to join forces with Germany in fighting with every means against the Comintern in accordance with our agreement.

It is not so long since Germany explained, with reference to events in the Far East, that the anti-Comintern Pact was of cultural significance only, but Japan evidently feels it necessary to make much more of the pact than that. Opposed as it is to justice and reason, since no sane human being could find anything admirable in Germany’s present line of policy against Czechoslovakia, Japan’s hasty and effusive assurance of her readiness to co-operate with Germany may best be understood as indicating the dissatisfaction with which she regards the difficulties in which she is involved in China and her concern over other aspects of the situation in. the Far East.

Japan’s declaration of solidarity with Germany may have been inspired chiefly by the consideration of her relations with Soviet Russia. The -Japanese militarists arc said to regard war with Russia as inevitable sooner or later. No doubt they would much rather fight in alliance with Germany than single-handed.

At the broadest view the Tokio declaration is a somewhat staggering indication of the lengths to which Japan, under her present rulers, is prepared to go in exploiting international lawlessness. The significance of the declaration is not least of concern, io the United States and to the British Pacific Dominions. Japan’s naive exhibition of unscrupulous opportunism provides an additional reason, if it were needed, for doing everything that is possible to promote understanding between the nations that are capable, if they set themselves to the task, of organising the world for peace.