The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun. MONDAY, APRIL 3, 1939. BRITAIN AND EUROPE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 78, 3 April 1939, Page 8

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun.

MONDAY, APRIL 3, 1939. BRITAIN AND EUROPE.

For the cause thnt lacks assistance, For the icronri that reeds resistance, For the future in Ihe distance, And the good that tee ran do.

While most commentators in England

and abroad seem to regard Mr. Chamberlain's statement regarding Poland as one of great importance, " The Times " makes much less of it than the others. It points out, in effect, that Britain has not pledged herself to defend Poland's frontiers, but Poland's

independence. The distinction is important, and the fact that " The Times " has drawn it is significant, for " The Times " is better informed than any other newspaper concerning , Mr. Chamberlain's intentions, and possibly better informed than the Foreign Office. Mr. Chamberlain may recognise, as many other people do, that Germany has some reason to be dissatisfied with the existing frontier arrangements. He may be willing to see frontier adjustments made, provided that they are made after negotiation. This, although it was not fully appreciated until afterwards, was his attitude towards the Czechoslovak problem last year. Major " adjustments " were forced upon the Czech Government by Britain and France, and it was only when it was made known to Mr. Chamberlain that Herr Hitler wanted more, and was resolved to take it immediately and by force, that war appeared imminent. It was averted by the Munich Conference, bat as last month's events showed, Czechoslovakia •lost not only her old frontiers but her independence also.

The temper of Britain, however, has changed since September. Her awareness of Nazi tactics is greater. Her power is greater. These- are factors of great importance, and added to them is the prestige of Mr. Chamberlain and his reputation as a man of peace. Whatever may be the real meaning of his declaration on Friday, it carries the weight of a solemn warning that the British Government is not prepared to allow any more small nations to be terrorised into submission. Just how Britain is going to prevent it is not clear.. Herr Hitler may now—as he may have intended all along—refrain from technical aggression against Poland. He may work from inside Poland. We may begin to, hear, of ''Polish terrorism" and of an independent movement among one of the Polish minorities, a movement culminating, perhaps, in an'fcppeal to Germany for help. On these possibilities it is fruitless to speculate until the.-'progress or the outcome of the negotiations which are going on between Britain and various other countries is announced, and their purpose explained.