The Auckland Star WITH WHICH AND INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun. TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 1936. FEAR IN EUROPE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 59, 10 March 1936, Page 6

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

TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 1936. FEAR IN EUROPE.

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

Germany's open repudiation of the Locarno treaties, even if it had not been accompanied by the movement of troops into the Rhineland, "was certain to make all her neighbours fearful. Reports from various European capitals to-day indicate that everywhere, except in London, the worst interpretation is being placed on Germany's action. For this Herr Hitler has only himself to blame. No doubt he gratified his instinct for the dramatic, and Avon ten thousand "Heils" from his docile Reichstag by the swiftness and boldness of his stroke, but he, as well as any other European leader, knew that the denunciation —without notice —of the Locarno treaties would immediately be suspected as the prelude to an act of Avar. The suspicions iioav aflame may prevent his OAvn alternative proposals from being given the calm consideration Avhich is their due. MeanAA T hile, France has called a meeting of the Locarno PoAvers, and has appealed to the League Council, Avhich is to-meet on Friday to consider Germany's violation of Locarno. The Treaty "of Mutual Guarantee, AA-hich Avas one of the Locarno treaties, Avas signed by France, Germany and Belgium and also by Britain and Italy. Germany and Belgium and Germany and France "undertake that they Avill in no case attack or invade each other or resort to Avar against each other." If this undertaking is broken, all the other signatories are bound each to "come immediately" to the help of the injured party. Except in abnormal cases, it is the Council of the League Avhich is to decide Avhether and by whom the undertaking has been broken. In flagrant cases the parties to the Treaty may take action before the League Council meets, but only if they are satisfied that the violation "constitutes an unproA'oked act of aggression and that, by reason either of the crossing of the frontier or of the outbreak of hostilities or of the assembly of armed forces in the demilitarised zone, immediate action is necessary." None of the PoAvers has treated the arrival of German troops in the Rhineland as an act of aggression demanding "immediate action," so that any action they may decide upon Avill be deliberate. But it is difficult to see what action they can take. It Avill hardly be contended that if Germany, by threat or by force, Avere obliged to AvithdraAV her troops and to retract her denunciation of Locarno, France Avould then feel secure. On the contrary, France Avould rightly fear that Germany AA r as merely aAvaiting a more propitious moment. Possibly a Avay out of the impasse may be found by inducing France not to ratify her pact with Russia,