Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 1939. THE OLD PRUSSIAN POLICY.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 March 1939, Page 6

Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 1939. THE OLD PRUSSIAN POLICY.

PVENTS in recent weeks have shown that there is no change in the German policy since the days of Frederick the Great. Hitler professes to adore the principles of the latter whom Maria Theresa of Austria once described, as the robber ot Europe.” Hitler has embarked on a policy similar to that which found favour with Emperor Frederick. Students ot history will recall that Emperor Frederick offered military assistance to Austria in exchange for recognition of rig its in Silesia, which his father and predecessor had expressly disclaimed, and that Maria Theresa rejected the proposals as those of “a mere robber.” Thereupon Emperor Frederick invaded Silesia without a declaration of war Thus fitter s actions of today are only those of the Prussia of the eighteent century. Frederick’s policy concerning Silesia cost Irussia heavily for some years in men and money, and it was not until a successful attack on Saxony, the ally of Austria, by Prussia that Maria Theresa was finally compelled to renew the cession of Silesia by the Treaty of Dresden in 1745.

The treacherous actions of Bismarck in the ’6O s,of last century followed on lines similar to the ‘.‘Silesia steal. The “pilot who was dropped” by the ex-Kaiser William, set his heart on acquiring Holstein, in Austrian territory, and while preparing to fight Austria he first made a treaty with Vienna -recognising Austrian rights to Holstein. Schleswig, long an object of contention between the Danes and the Germans, became an independent State under Danish suzerainty, and at the end of the 14th century it was united to Holstein. .In 1848-50 Schleswig-Holstein unsuccessfully revolted against Denmark, and it was later that Bismarck set to work, to put into operation the centuries-old German dream of seizing the territory. In 1864 Prussia, with the help of Austria, wrested Schleswig-Holstein from Denmark, Bismarck deliberately duping the French Emperor in order to prevent his inteimention. Then, in 1866, Bismarck had war declared on Austria, and as the result of a policy of treachery the two duchies became incorporated in the Prussian dominions. It will thus be seen that the “race-ideology” of Hitler is,but a revival of the philosophies of Fichte, Frobel and Nietzsche. ,

There are signs that the Nazi policy may not stop with the latest aggressive move in regard to Memel. The attitude of Britain was outlined by Mr Neville Chamberlain in a cable yesterday when he very emphatically stated:

“Britain has already made it clear that the recent action by Germany has raised the question whether Germany is not seeking by successive steps to dominate Europe and perhaps even to. go further than that. Were this interpretation of Germany’s intentions to prove correct, the British Government would feel bound to say that this would rouse the successful resistance of Britain and other countries who prize their freedom, as similar attempts have done in the past.”

It will be interesting to see how far Herr Hitler is prepared to go in defiance of the frank warning which he has received from Britain. Hitler certainly has peculiar ideas on the question of peace. In “Mein Kampf” Hitler has defined what he means by peace—“a peace not supported by the tearful pacifist lamentations of palm-waving females, b,ut founded upon the victorious sword of a ruling race, bending* the world to a service of higher Kultur.” The quasi-religious frenzy of the Nazi Swastika-worship is emblematic of the German concept of “Kultur,” which has been aptly described as “mastery, effort ceaselessly renewed, constant struggle without final satisfaction in .principle.” Hitler has on more than one occasion told the world that the Nazi “ideology” was not for export, and was for the .German peoples only. This assurance, after the Czech outrage, has now gone the way of Hitler’s other prevarications.