Wairarapa Times-Age TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1938. CLIMBING DOWN DENIED.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 November 1938, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1938. CLIMBING DOWN DENIED.

AN idea admittedly rather widely prevalent in this country that the British Prime Minister, Mr Neville Chamberlain, “climbed down” to Herr Hitler in the recent crisis over Czechoslovakia is contested stoutly by the Very Rev Dr Dugald Macfarlane, recently Moderator of the Church ot Scotland, who is at present visiting New Zealand. As Dr Macfarlane is reported, he said that: —

In England it was realised that Hitler had taken orders from Mr Chamberlain, and it was the first time that Hitler had taken an order from anyone since he gained power. Mr Chamberlain had told Hitler: “You must meet me and discuss this question, and Hitler had obeyed.

It would be pleasant to accept this cheerful view of what happened at Godesberg and Munich, but what evidence is there to support it? The German .Fuehrer undoubtedly agreed to meet Mr Chamberlain, but that the vital question at stake was in any real .sense discussed has yet to appear. The plain truth seems to be that war was averted on the basis of conceding to Hitler all that he demanded for the time being.

Ostensibly, Nazi Germany was championing an oppressed racial minority- in Czechoslovakia, but the settlement reached at Munich is of importance mainly as giving Germany an enormously increased strategic control over Central Europe and over the routes to the regions that lie beyond. In his seizure of Austria, Hitler had already gained substantial control of the Danubian valley. The acquisition of Sudetenland gave him in addition mastery over the two chief gateways from Western Europe to the East—the Moravian Gateway and the Oden Pass. Hitler, therefore, as an American writer observed recently,

bestrides these broad highways that point toward the historic German dream of Teuton power extending from Berlin to Bagdad, and the whole world asks if Me will turn his back upon the tantalising prospect of the rising sun and face toward Geneva or some kind of European appeasement. Those who credit his assurance that he has made his last territorial demand believe European peace can now be organised ... But others believe Hitler will not turn to look upon Geneva, but will look east and west for new resources and new industrial wealth to challenge any other nation on the sea and the markets of the world. Whether the Munich agreement leads to European appeasement or a series of new crises would thus appear to depend upon whether Hitler s latest promise at Munich is more to be credited than the programme set forth in “Mein Kampf’’ and already put into partial operation.

Since these words were written, the anti-Jewish pogroms have east new and lurid light on the mentality of the Nazis and on their policy aims, and the effect certainly is not to encourage hopes of an effective contribution by Germany to the establishment of world peace.

So far as the issues directly at stake at Munich we’re concerned, Hitler appears to have pursued with unqualified success the accepted totalitarian tactics of rejecting 1 all compromise and refusing to modify his demands. From that view and its implications there appears to be no escape even if it he agreed, that at the time and in the circumstances Mr Chamberlain took the best course that was open to him. Conceding so much, it remains true that any hope of future peace apd security must depend upon a united organisation of the democratic nations which will make it possible to take a very much stronger stand than was taken, or than it was practicable to take, at Munich. It is again reported, in one of today’s cablegrams, that it is becoming increasingly evident that the. Nazi excesses against the Jews are having the effect of bringing the United States closer to Britain, and that isolation talk which was heard during the Czechoslovakian crisis is almost silenced. This is news to be welcomed unreservedly.

SAFETY ON THE ROADS.

PVERY encouragement and assistance certainly should be given to the Minister of Transport, Mr Semple, and his Department in the efforts they are making to reduce this country’s record of deaths and injuries in road accidents. . lhe comprehensive road safety campaign it is proposed to institute early in December should lhe more readily be supported since our'national figures of road fatalities and injuries show little diminution, in spite of all thjit has been done thus far in attempting to ensure safe driving and the exercise of genet al care.

A statement by lhe Commissioner of Transport (Mr G. Laurenson) shows 'that events of last weekend brought the total number of deaths from road accidents since the beginning of last April to 156, as compared with 148 in the corresponding period of the previous year. .Even allowing lor an increase 01. nine per cent in the consumption of petrol,’ these figures mean that, in the later as compared with the earlier period, hardly any reduction has been effected, in the loss of life on lhe roads. The numbers of cases of injury in road accidents also remain at a very serious level.

Tn lhe campaign opening next month, direct and pointed appeals will he made by means of various displays, for’ the observance, by motorists and oilier road users of the rules ol: safety. Many pertinent reminders are suggested which should emphasise sharply Ihe responsibility that, rests in this matter upon a considerable part of the total population. The campaign certainly should be supported actively in all parts of the Dominion and ii may lie hoped fhal il will not lack a lull measure of support in the Wairarapa.

With life being lost and injury suffered on the present scale, demands may arise for a much more drastic regulation and control of road traffic than are enforced at present. In any event, however, the education of road users —motorists and pedestrians alike—is an imperative necessity of the times and campaigns like that to be undertaken next month may have to be supplemented in various ways, tn the United .States, road safety education has been, developed extensively in elementary schools, and is now being followed up by the preparation of a model high, school course under the title “Sportsmanlike Qriving.”

It is of the utmost importance (one American authority has observed) that the automobile drivers of tomorrow be taught safe habits of motor vehicle operation while they are young. High schools everywhere are recognising this, and training courses are rapidly being instituted.

In this country and elsewhere, the problem of road safety no doubt will demand more and more comprehensive treatment. Meantime, the most should be made of the campaign that is io precede the approaching holiday period, in the hope that it may lead to an appreciable reduction in. the numbers of people killed and injured on the roads.