Wairarapa Times-Age TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 1939. CIVILISATION UNDER TEST.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 March 1939, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 1939. CIVILISATION UNDER TEST.

ALTHOUGH some indications have appeared of. a slight easing in the European situation, grave doubts are still raised as to the possibility of peace being maintained. The outrage of the occupation of Czechoslovakia in itself has gone far to put Germany beyond the pale and a German attack on Rumania almost certainly would convince the European democracies and Russia that to delay any longer in taking measures for their own defence would be to invite disaster. The Nazi dictatorship has denied the delivery of an ultimatum to Rumania, and the denial is supported by official news from Bucharest. Strong German forces are moving up to the Rumanian frontier, however, and it cannot yet be taken for granted that Rumania will not be attacked without warning. It has been demonstrated most conclusively that the assurances and promises of the present rulers of Germany are entirely worthless.

While it would be foolish to ignore that aspect of the position, the fact is also in plain sight that the dangers to which European and world civilisation are exposed are the outcome primarily of the weakness of Germany and Italy, and not of their strength. The root question involved is not whether the German and Italian nations will endeavour to better their fortunes by war, but whether these nations will allow themselves to be swept, with others; into disaster at the bidding of reckless and essentially brainless gangsters.

It is not enough to.say, as Mr Chamberlain and others have said.of late that the people of all nations ardently desire peace and abominate the thought of war. It is to be said also that all the true intelligence of the world is east in the scale for. peace and that the dangers of war, which now loom so formidably, are created solely by men. of unbalanced' and distempered minds—men who would be dealt with appropriately under the laws and regulations relating to lunacy. It does not alter the essential facts that these apostles of ruin and disaster have been able to enlist the support of a great deal of perverted intelligence and misplaced loyalty.

The existing postion in Europe is almost in the last degree critical because two great nations have turned back in the march of civilisation and have allowed themselves to be dragooned and dominated by gangs committed to a worship of brute force as insane as it is bound to be ultimately disastrous. These nations —Germany and Italy—have at once been made politically impotent and have been' endowed with tremendous immediate striking power. There can be no complete remedy for this appalling state of affairs while the people of Germany and the people of Italy acquiesce in their present slavery to militarism.

Even if the Nazi and Fascist dictatorships are intimidated in some degree by the determination of the peace-loving nations to withstand further aggression, and are thereby subjected to a measure of restraint, the position will remain radically insecure. It is possible to develop and extend a policy of aggression by devious and underhand methods, not readily open to challenge, as well as by open and brutal threats or the exercise of force. The full remedy demanded is the re-estab-lishment of political freedom where it has been overthrown.

Of that re-establishment there is little enough prospect at present where Germany and Italy are concerned, but it may very reasonably be hoped that the continuance in power of the totalitarian dictators depends upon their ability to put up at least an appearance of spectacular success. It is not unreasonable to believe that should the worst come to the worst, the war to which the policy of these dictatorships is directed would involve, their speedy and inevitable downfall. This would imply only an exercise of elementary intelligence on the part of the people by whom the dictators are now exalted. There are some limits to the extent to which bad leadership and the miseries it brings in its train will be endured by any people.

Unfortunately, however, .it is by no means possible to take it for granted that the slavery now imposed on Germany and Italy—a slavery plainly incompatible with the maintenance and progress of civilisation—will be cast, off in time to avert the catastrophe of European and world war. The tragedy of the existing situation is that widespread and terrible calamity threatens to be the price that must be paid for lidding the world of Nazi and Fascist tyranny.