Wairarapa Times-Age MONDAY, MARCH 13, 1939. FROM STRIFE TO GOLDEN AGE.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 March 1939, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age MONDAY, MARCH 13, 1939. FROM STRIFE TO GOLDEN AGE.

JF there was some hyperbole, there was also essential truth in the declaration of the British Home Secretary (Sir Samuel Hoare), in a speech to his constituents, reported on Saturday, that: —

Five men in Europe—three dictators and the Prime Ministers of England and France—if they worked with singleness of purpose and unity of action to this end, might in an incredibly short space of time, transform the whole history of the world.

There can be no doubt about the cleansing and enrichment of national and international life that would result if an end were made of wars and rumours of wars, and of the colossal waste of' human energy and of nfaterial resources, in a feverish race of armaments, which is beggaring the nations at the present day.

If. the five men specified by Sir Samuel Hoare, and the people these men represent, could be brought together in understanding and working agreement, the establishment of the golden age pictured by the British Minister in eloquent and. moving terms would be only a matter of time and detail. What in fact are the prospects of inducing these five men to act and work .together in promoting peace? -

In proclaiming the determination of the British Prime Minister (Air Chamberlain) to work with heart and soul for such an end, Sir Samuel Hoare added: —‘“I cannot believe that the other leaders of Europe will not join him in the high endeavour upon which he is engaged.” It must be hoped that that statement is something more than the expression of a sentimental aspiration, but to the ordinary observer of world affairs it must seem in the highest degree unlikely that the dictators now ruling Germany and Italy, at all events, can be induced to co-operate with other European leaders in promoting a policy of peace and appeasement.

It goes without saying that any opportunity of promoting such a policy ought to be seized, upon eagerly by the demo.cracies. While, however, there apears to be at least an open, possibility that Russia could be induced to co-operate in a policy of stabilisation and appeasement, the whole disclosed attitude of the Nazi and Fascist dictatorships negative the idea that they could be induced to do the same.

Any real approach to the pacification of Europe and of the world beyond must, depend, upon a. readiness on the part bf all the nations concerned to reduce armaments and to substitute international consultation and adjustment for the practice of attempting to extort concessions by using, or threatening to use force. The alternative to the armaments race, and probably the only alternative, is to return to what is, or was, essential in the organisation of the League of Nations. A system of collective security is the natural and inevitable corollary to a mutual reduction of armaments by the nations of the world.

As against the glowing hope expressed by Sir Samuel Hoare, it has to be considered, however, that the present rulers of Germany and Italy, far from showing any inclination to enter upon the course that would make secure peace possible, have poured contempt on the idea of collective security and have persistently endangered European peace by acts and threats of aggression. In their glorification of military strength as the thing that is important above all others to a nation, and in the details of their policy, both internal and external, Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini have gone far to shut themselves off from any possible understanding with the democracies. ‘

Unless the German and Italian dictators are prepared to renounce their declared aims and to reverse in great part the policy they have pursued thus far and are still pursuing, any voluntary co-operation on their part in a genuine policy of peace plainly is out of the question. In face of a resolute stand by the democracies, however, Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini may find it expedient to modify their policy in some degree. The possibilities the situation holds presumably will be tested rather in the settlement of the Spanish question than at the disarmament conference which the British Prime Minister is now reported to intend calling late in the northern summer. That date is months ahead, but vital questions that centre on Spain presumably must be settled within the next few weeks.

On behalf of the Spanish Government, Lord Halifax has stated that pledges regarding the withdrawal of foreign combatants from Spain are accepted, and that a very serious situation would arise if these pledges were not honoured. It will be time enough if and when these questions have been brought to a fully satisfactory settlement to indulge even tentatively in such hopes of general European co-operation for peace as Sir Samuel Hoare lias expressed.