FRIENDSHIP OF PEOPLES

Auckland Star, Issue 111, 13 May 1935, Page 6

FRIENDSHIP OF PEOPLES

Tn your leading article of to-day you mention the French-German football match which took placc in Paris on Sunday amid scenes of friendly enthusiasm and in a sportsmanlike spirit (writes a correspondent of "The Times"). On a day once more on which, as the cliche expression has it, "the chancelleries of Europe were seething with excitement." On Saturday some correspondents in Paris had hastily informed the world that the Quai D'Orsay and the Surete were seriously considering cancelling the match for fear that the infuriated French populace would mob the German players and create a serious international incident! Sic! This makes the omen, as you call it, even more propitious and throws at the same time a not uninteresting sidelight 011 the mentality (and the activities) of a certain type of professional politicians and journalists out of touch with the real feelings of the man in the street. Such omens, moreover. occur much more frequently than readers of the political Press could possibly suspect. May I recount another one? At the annual Berlin Horse Show this last February a team of French crack cavalry officers competed in a very difficult jumping competition. The horsemanship of all the teams was superb, the applause of the thousands that filled the vast hall to the last seat day after day was impartially enthusiastic. The German* team won. The band, after the verdict of the judges had been given, struck up first the national anthem of the "second winners," and with their right arms outstretched in salute the huge mass of spectators stood at attention while the "Marseillaise" was being played. It was then announced that the next day, as a ("side-show" and hors eoncours, the French and German riders would exchange mounts and do the jumping competition all over again. Again the galleries and stands were packed, and again, this time 011 the French horses, the Germans won. The natural pride in the performance of their countrymen did not in anyway lessen the demonstrative ovation of the crowd for the sportsmanlike spirit -of the French guests. Again : sit omen ! It is, of course, I suppose, too Utopian a thought to envisage a Europe conscious of a mutual respect for its many races and their individuality, but conscious, too, of their common destinies, in which manoeuvres will take place 'between the armies of two "enemy" countries, and, after the first decision as to who was the victor, the generals will then exchange command and test their generalship by leading the "enemy" forces ?