The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1934. A COOLING FRIENDSHIP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 27, 1 February 1934, Page 6

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

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1934. A COOLING FRIENDSHIP.

.For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs For the future in the distance, And the good that tee can do

Gome doubt has been thrown by the Soviet organ "Izvestia" on Germany's sincerity in signing the non-aggression pact Avith Poland. The paper wants to know what compensation Germany hopes to receive for this renunciation. It is possible that Hitler is genuinely desirous of establishing better relations with Poland and of finding some peaceful solution of the many difficulties connected with the Polish Corridor. It may also be that this new pact is a shrewd blow aimed at France and Russia. When Mussolini proposed his FourPower Pact, France was put in the difficult position of having to run the risk of offending Britain and Italy if she rejected it, and of offending Poland and the Little Entente if she accepted it. France tried to modify the Pact so as to make it less obnoxious to her allies, but without much success. Poland began to turn away from France towards Germany, and announced that she was going to make her own private arrangements with that country. The Little Entente formed itself into what was practically a new Power, and began to turn to Italy. As Poland was now a somewhat doubtful ally, France began to entertain thoughts of replacing her by Soviet Russia as the principal ally on the Eastern front. Russia believed that Poland might be persuaded to give up the Corridor if she were promised assistance in obtaining a passage to the sea through the Ukraine at Russia's expense. That is why the Soviets want to know at whose expense Germany hopes to receive compensation.

. In view of some possible pact between Poland and Germany, with the consequent weakening of France, the Little Entente set about strengthening its own position. The twenty-year-old feud between Bulgaria and Yugoslavia was settled, and new pacts were concluded between Yugoslavia and Turkey, between Turkey and Greece, and Turkey and Rumania. A Balkan Five-Year Pact was mooted, by which Yugoslavia, Rumania, Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria were mutually to guarantee their existing frontiers. It is evident that France has lost the confidence of Poland, and to some extent that of her Balkan allies. The present situation looks like a new grouping of the European Powers. The main cleavage is over the revision of the Peace Treaties. The Succession States are strong against revision. France has hitherto counted Poland as equally strong against it. She regarded Poland as being in her pocket. Poland has now taken an independent line, and may favour revision in favour of Germany if Germany helps her to obtain compensation elsewhere. France will be undoubtedly weakened by any defection on the part of Poland, and this may induce her to consider the question of a closer understanding with Britain and Italy. If so, this may make for a more conciliatory attitude on the part of France towards disarmament and treaty revision.