NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 46, 4 December 1939, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

WHY HITLER MUST GO. '

"Can frontiers ancl faiths, language and commerce serve to unite nations and not divide them? Can we create a true, unity in Europe? Can we set before its a common aim of service? Can wo inspire it with common ideals of freedom, toleration and mercy? This is what must be,” said Mr Anthony Eden in a broadcast speech. “While the Nazi system exists, it cannot be, and so the Nazi system and all that it implies must go. By Herr Hitler’s own decision our new civilisation must he built through a world at war. Wo would have wished it otherwise. But our new civilisation will be built just the same, for some forces arc bigger than men.”

LEST A WORSE THING BEFALL,

The outbreak of war has had a remarkable effect on the political situation both in India and in Palestine, notes the “London Observer.” In each of those countries there has been acute (and even vindictive) agitation against British rule. And in each case the spectacle of war between Britain and German has given a new angle of thought to discontent. Not only Mr Ghandi, but Pandit Jawaliarlal Nehru, whose attitudte to the Imperial Government has been far more unrelenting, realises that any grievance now felt by Indian Nationalists is trivial in comparison with what German rule would imply. And Jew and Arab in Palestine have both suddenly acquired the same sense of proportion

AS BERNARD SHAW SEES IT.

May I again point out that the news from Russia is good news for us, as far as any war news can be called good? asks Mr George Bernard Shaw in a letter to the “Times.” The question for us is not whether Mr Molotov’s speech resembles certain utterances of Herr Hitler’s or not. What concerns us is whether Mr Molotoff’s statements are true or not. They are obviously true to the last syllable. We have encouraged Poland to fight by our pledge to support her; and we have encouraged ourselves by silly reports that the Polish army was unbroken and that the Poles were performing prodigies of valour. The truth, as we now have to admit, and as Mr Molotov notes, is that our support has so entirely failed that, the Polish resistance has been wiped out, and with it the Polish army and the Polisli Government, leaving Poland derelict io bo picked up and put on by Herr Hitler as a shepherd putteth on his garment. At this point, we being helpless, Mr Stalin steps in and says “Not quite. If the Ukraine and White Russia are going begging, Russia will occupy them, Hitler or no Hitler.’’ No sooner said than done. The Red Army is in occupation. Mr Strain, who was very explicit as to his objection to be made a catspaw to take our cliesnuts off the fire, has no objection whatever to using Herr Hitler as a catspaw. The unfortunate Fuhrcr is compelled to disgorge half his booty and to face yet another army saying “Thus far and no farther.” And instead of giving three cheers for Stalin we are shrieking that all is lost. Mr [Stalin lately sent us a photograph of himself laughing at us. When will we learn to laugh at ourselves?