Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 1939. AN AUSTRALIAN OPTIMIST.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 June 1939, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 1939. AN AUSTRALIAN OPTIMIST.

JT is perhaps of special interest to people in Illis part of the world that the Commonwealth Prime Minister (Mr R. G. Menzies) is amongst those who have welcomed Mr Chamberlain’s statement in the House of Commons that the British Government is ready to discuss the claims of Germany and other countries if there is a reasonable prospect of a, settlement by negotiation and not by force. As it stands and for what it is worth, the attitude here defined of course is unexceptionable. It is a trite truism that all disputes between nations ought to be settled by negotiation and not by force. In the present state of international affairs, however, a declared readiness by prominent men representing the peaceably inclined part of a divided world to discuss claims put forward by another part may be injudicious and even dangerous.

While he is respnsible for the statement approved by Mr Menzies, the British Prime Minister has safeguarded himself by reservations which presumably still hold good. For instance, in the course of a debate in the House of Commons on May 19 last, Mr Chamberlain said: —

I agree with Mr Attlee that you cannot profitably discuss your final peace terms until you are satisfied that there has been a renunciation, or at any rate an abandonment, of any designs of aggression against other people. The German Government have declared that they had no such intention, but the trouble is that Mr Attlee is not alone in not believing them and this position has been brought about by the Germans themselves

So long as the condition here clearly stated—a renunciation, or at any rate an abandonment, by Nazi Germany oi any designs of aggression against other people—is insisted upon as an essential preliminary, there can be no possible objection to an offer to discuss German claims.

It needs to be understood and emphasised, however, that it 'would be an entirely different thing to enter into discussion ■with the Nazi dictatorship -while it adheres to its present policy of aggression and regards negotiation, so-called, only as an opportunity for demanding compliance with hectoring and truculent demands. Mr Menzies has shown at times an apparent failure to appreciate the extent to which Germany is outlawed by the policy and tactics of her present rulers and by their frank reversion to a spirit of barbarism which goes hand in hand with an absolute negation of good faith.

It was pointed out by a Sydney commentator not long ago that when Mr Menzies returned to Australia in the middle of last from a visit to Europe, in which he had all the advantages, as he pointed out, of contacts in London, Paris and Berlin, he was “disposed to discount the significance of German military demonstrations” against Czechoslovakia. He then thought the state of Europe “in reality more balanced than it was six months ago”—that is before the German annexation of Austria. Only a fortnight after Mr Menzies had spoken in these hopeful terms Herr' Hitler achieved the disarmament and partition of Czechoslovakia, and three months ago he wiped out the last remnants of Czech independence. As the commentator who has been mentioned observed: — Mr Menzies’s views on the injustices of the Versailles Treaty and the unwisdom of subsequent Franco-British treatment of Germany are familiar enough, and, with some reservations, are widely shared. But surely it is the business of the democratic world, if it hopes to survive, to face the harsh and dangerous reality of Nazism, not to repine over the Germany that might—or might not —have been. It is surely also the business of democracy to refuse to allow itself to be placed in a false position where the discussion of German claims is concerned. The British Empire obviously would place itself in a false position if it agreed to enter into discussion with Germany before that country had given any sign of compliance with the condition rightly insisted upon by Mr Chamberlain last month—a renunciation, or at any rate an abandonment of designs of aggression.

As matters stand today, there is no apparent prospect of a. settlement with Germany “by negotiation and not by force.” That prospect will hardly be brought nearer by mere overtures, or the approval of overtures, but it may be brought nearer by building up the strongest possible peace front—an association of nations united in desiring peace and prepared, if further aggression is attempted, to unite in resisting it.

The need for a firm combined stand by the democracies should be appreciated by none more clearly than by the leading public men of the British Dominions. Of necessity, as well as on higher grounds, the partner States of the Empire must pin their faith to the system of collective security, and they have a vital interest in the colonial question as it is affected by German demands. In the Dominions, as in a good many other countries, the opinion is gaining ground that the whole question of African and other tropical colonies must be overhauled sooner or later with an eye primarily to the interests and welfare of the native, inhabitants of those territories. Any German claims now presented for discussion, however, would include demands for the unconditional restoration of tropical colonies formerly held by the Reich. These demands could not be conceded without basely betraying many millions of coloured people and breeding new dangers in a world already more than sufficiently menaced.

CENTENNIAL PLANS.

jY COMMITTEE recommendation to the Masterton Borough and County councils that they should select March 14, the anniversary of the foundation of the settlement by the Small Farms Association, obviously has a great deal to commend if. It may be hoped that the recommendation will he approved and adopted and that the lead thus given will be followed in other parts of the district. The aim certainly should be to fix celebration dates in towns and other areas throughout the Wairarapa without dashing. Many members of families long established in Un 1 district, as well as other people, no doubt will wish to attend a number of the celebrations and it is wholly desirable that this should be made possible.

The planting of suitable trees on the principal approaches to Masterton also has strong claims to approval and support. If this project is well and judiciously carried out the tree avenues will take on additional beauty and charm as the years go by. The enterprise is one in which it should be possible io engage the interest of school children and young people, who might be encouraged to study and record the growth of the trees, as well as to take an interest in the historical significance of the planting and in the memories of pioneering days.

Much might be done in these ways, not only to benefit the members of the rising generation by introducing them to interesting and important avenues of observation and study, but to protect the memorial trees against vandalism. Although we are about to celebrate the completion of a century of white settlement, we have 'our traditions largely 1o build in this country and the establishment of a lasting and beautiful memorial by planting trees on the principal approaches to the town commends itself from that standpoint as well as on other grounds.