THE NEW EUROPE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 November 1940, Page 6

THE NEW EUROPE

NEED OF BROADER FOUNDATION. Probably one of the greatest tragedies of the Versailles settlement was that, owing to its past history, victorious Europe emphasised disintegration rather than integration, writes Mr J. Emlyn Williams in the “Christian Science Monitor." For the principle of nationality was basic to the 1914-1918 struggle and demanded full recognition in the peace treaties which ended it. Yet only a few years afterward many were echoing the spirit of Victor Hugo's words of 1869. "The first of the servitudes is the frontier .... wipe out the frontier, close down the customs house, dismiss the soldier; in other words, be free, and peace will follow.” European unity must bo achieved, but in such a way that the freedom of its individual nations, small as well as great, is respected. Yet while emphasising this fact, it has also become clear by today that the small national unit can, of itself, play no effective role in international politics. The principle of neutrality has been proved bankrupt when practised by weak and relatively unarmed European Slates. Modern armaments and the scope of modern warfare have rendered them obsolete, fn consequence the new defences of Europe's national communicatics must be on a broader foundation—they must be either part of a Continental federation or come within the sphere of influence of a great Power. What is true in the political realm is also true in the economic. The multiplicity of economic units, each with ils own independent economic system behind tariff barriers, quotas, exchange restrictions, and barter agreements, must go. To integrate not disintegrate, to build up not break up., must be the aim. I