The Waikato Times THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1939 EUROPEAN DRAMA

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20726, 9 February 1939, Page 8

The Waikato Times THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1939 EUROPEAN DRAMA

In the great drama that is being played out in Europe, each succeeding stage is marked by a by one of four men — i Xe\ille Chamberlain, Herr Hitler, M. Daladicr and Signor Mussomi each with the power to alter the whole situation in an hour. Since the dawn of the modern dictatorships the history of Europe is contained in these statements, which have assumed a new importance in world politics. Not the least important declaration is Mr Chamberlains latest intimation emphasising the solidarity of the Anglo-!rench alliance and stating that “any threat to the vital interests of I ranee must evoke British co-operation with France.” The statement was promptly recognised abroad as the most definite commitment Britain has so far made to France, and its reference to the Italian campaign against France was clearly discernible. It is notable in the new diplomacy that the periodical statements by the leaders have different backgrounds. The democratic leaders are ultimately answerable to their people for all their public actions. Therefore, declarations by France and Britain in the main represent the will of the people and are largely robbed of the element of ‘‘bluff” which ha? played a large part in the policies of the dictatorships. A single dictator may play the game of bluff without fear of correction at home, while the democratic leader is most likely to have his bluff "called by his own people. Thus democracy has in recent years suffered a certain “handicap,” especially since it had little armed force to back a bold and positive foreign policy. Those who have followed foreign affairs closely cannot fail to observe that the situation is developing, temporarily at least, in favour of the democracies. Regained military strength is investing the foreign policy with a, greater confidence, and in recent weeks the most belligerent foreign leaders have shown a welcome measure of that conciliatory spirit which Britain has sought to encourage. In every field improvement has been shown, and if the settlement of the Spanish war can be negotiated safely the prospects are for more settled international relations. Even the Spanish situation does not at the moment present the menacing features of a few weeks ago. Messages from Europe emphasised the very definite undertakings given by both Italy and Germany to withdraw from Spain immediately General Franco has secured the victory. General Franco has declared that Spain has no intention of fortifying the Pyrenees frontier against France. In these circumstances it is most probable that Britain will make serious efforts to end the war and persuade th 6 Republicans to avoid further bloodshed by abandoning a cause that is very clearly lost already. The outstanding lesson of the whole deplorable European tangle is that the democratic countries can hold their ground only if they make themselves strong from a military point of view and if they remain strong until Europe has lost its madness and realised that there are higher aims in life than territorial and national aggression.