Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1936. ECONOMIC PRESSURE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 100, 8 February 1936, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1936. ECONOMIC PRESSURE.

The contention that economic factors are responsible for the world-wide preparations for war, voiced in the House of Commons the other day, is based on sound premises, as witness the recent actions of Italy and Japan and the utterances of German leaders. Behind the ambition and activity of Italy in East Africa is the determination, frankly expressed, to possess opportunity for territorial and commercial expansion. The attitude of Germany, 'with varying degrees of consistency and resolve, has been that of a nation violently robbed of needed colonies by the peace treaty; national prestige and national right to externa! sources of raw materials, rather than internal pressure of population, provide the basis of the demand. With Japan, in similar case to Italy in some respects, although possessing a widened entry to the Asian continent and a mandate over a considerable group of tropical islands in the Pacific, the question is now one of constant policy. When resolved to leave the League, the Japanese Government stoutly declared that any attempt to deprive Japan of the mandated islands would be met with armed resistance. One thing only can obviate calamitous outcome of the League’s failure to discipline Italy; it was in Sir Samuel Hoare’s mind when he made his memorable speech at Geneva. He then urged international attention to the grievance about colonial opportunities as a provocation of war, arguing that it was economic rather than territorial, and suggested action by the League to promote its discussion at a round table conference. The time is ripe for some review of that sort. In the rebound to nationalism is so serious a menace to peace that alarm may resolve into a readiness to co-operate in an overhaul of the position. Most national exchequers are too low _to encourage immediate resort to war tor elbowroom, but the example ot Italy may encourage, and is not doubt encouraging, an ' inflammatory mood wherever a sense of straitness exists. Nations in possession of envied resources cannot afford to/ neglect the signs of the times. It is an urgent duty to make full use of these resources in proof of the need, to be willing to take part in amicable dis russiou of the problem, and to prepare defensively against any unwarranted encroachment.