World News in Story and Picture

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 253, 24 October 1936, Page 3 (Supplement)

World News in Story and Picture

Settling the Assyrians. This year the homeless Assyrians have been, it is hoped, finally dealt with. After negotiations with the United States of Brazil and Paraguay fell through, they are now to be admitted into the French Mandated Territory of Syria, where land is to be reclaimed for them so that this unhappy people, numbering some 22,000, has at last a reasonable prospect of peace. The Mandatory Power 5s pleased, because it will gain a number of industrious and therefore profitable inhabitants. Iraq is pleased because the odium of the harsh treatment she accorded the Assyrians will now be removed. And Great Britain is pleased, because she has found a cheap way—£2so,ooo is not very much for a whole population—of fulfilling promises which have been scandalously neglected or broken. Finally, the League of Nations will be pleased it being able to claim another suc:ess at a cost of 1,300,000 Swiss francs spread over a period of four rears.

An Understanding Reached. A very important event lias taken place without much ado in the unsettled atmosphere at Geneva. Whilst the various League of Nations committees were busy trying to stop a war which they were unable to present, the Geneva representatives of Turkey, Iran and Iraq signed a pact of non-aggression. It is suggested that' two other Asiatic Moslem Powers, Afghanistan and SaudiArabia are ready to join. The situation in the Near East thus undergoes a very important change which will probably be welcomed by Europe as tending to lessen the growing influence of Japan in this region. The signing of the protocol extending for another ten years the Treaty of Friendship between Turkey and Russia is another check to Japanese aspirations. Colonisation Methods. Italy used insignificant border fights as an excuse for starting a war contrary to all treaties. Britain treats them as a matter of course. "In recent years," the latest British Colonial Office report on British Somaliland states, "conditions have,

been peaceful with the exception of inter-tribal raids both in the Protectorate and outside its borders. As indulgence in these is a hereditary pastime of all Somalis they are not taken seriously, as they can he checked by. extension of administration." The Italians endeavour to "civilise" natives by the use of bombs, sheik and poison gas; the British, nowadays, by sound administration. Bolivia's Anniversary. Bolivia ■ recently celebrated the 110 th anniversary of her independence from Spain. During that time the republic has seen many, vicissitudes, dwindling greatly in size, as the result of wars With neighbours. However, now that the Chaco war is ended, at least for the moment, general economic prosperity is " in-; creasing. Up till the present Bolivia has mainly been a country of mines, but now efforts are being : made to add agricultural activities, for. which there is great scope. The mines still constitute, however, the bulk of Bolivia's wealth, and many of them are controlled by British enterprise. Quite a number of New Zealandere have been associated with, their development.

Palestine's Developmental ' Danger. The effect, of Zipnist immigration into Palestine, stimulated by British administration'methods, has been to hasten the break-up of the old feudal structure of. society. Fifteen years ago there was still a balance. In 1918 the crafts-were, being carried on in many v villages. - The rapid and somewhat artificial industrialisation of the country has destroyed that balance and a : proletarian class is growing up;-: That class, when and if it becomes pauper, will be a danger alike to the Jew. and the Administration. If, as is happening at present, the pace ofdevelopment is forced, without adequate r'egard for the gradual transition- of age-long customs, there is a risk of revolution and bloodshed. Too liasty an advance spells danger for Palestine. There is a growing movement in all the Arab country for the realisation .of Lawrence's dream of an Arab Empire. Therefore, tlie situation in Palestine needs very careful handling in order to avoid serious trouble which would embrace practically the whole of the Near East up to the borders of India.