PRESS COMMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 24, 29 January 1938, Page 9

PRESS COMMENT.

VAN ZEELAND REPORT. Criticism and Praise in British Papers. FUNDAMENTAL OBSTACLES. British Official Wireless. (Received 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, January 28. Commenting editorial]}' on the van Zeeland report, the "Daily Telegraph" considers that the political difficulties are epitomised in his suggestion that the first step is to 7 ascertain if the Great Powers are prepared to attempt international economic co-operation. The paper adds: "The hour may not seem propitious, but the very urgency of the case may tend to overcome any hesitation which would otherwise be insuperable. In exposing the dangers Dr. van Zeelawd may have evoked a will to avert them." The city editor of "The Times" says: "It may be fairly asked, when is economic disarmament ever to be tackled if it is to be done neither In years of depression nor years of recovery ?" The "Manchester Guardian" states that what he proposes is really that Germany and Italy should be an Opportunity to bring their economic demands into the open." It adds: "If the reports can be made an instrument for working a change of heart in States that have preferred war economy to peaceful co-operation, well and good, but without a change of heart it will be stillborn. The "Daily Herald" (Labour) considers it would be an extreme piece of humbug to exempt democratic Governments from any responsibility, either for the present evil state of things, or for the failure to put it right. "The Times" commends Dr. van Zeeland for avoiding a tendency to preach any kind of economic crusade and divide nations into sheep and goats. The "Financial News" takes a highly critical attitude. An earlier cable message from London stated that summaries of Dr. van Zeeland'e report were published in Rome and Berlin without comment. Official circles are similarly reticent, saying that the matter is too complicated for comment at present. A message from New York states that the "Xew York Times" 6ays: "It is not prejudging the conclusions in the report to say that the brightest hope of international co-operation in the world to-day lies in the prospect of a closer partnership between democratic nations which have common standards and kindred purposes." A telegram from Washington etates that the Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, declined to discuss the report on the ground that he had not sufficiently studied it yet. However, he praised the undertaking. Other comment apparently will also be delayed pending a further exploration of the meaning and significance of the document, though it is felt that Dr. van Zeeland generally follows the .concepts of trade relationship long held by the American Government.

BERLIN AND ROME. ATTITUDE OF RESTRAINT. (Received 1 p.m.) LOXDOX, January 28. "The Times" Berlin correspondent says the Government reserves comment on the Vnn Zeeland report, pointing out that it is primarily a Franco-British document, in which Germany had not a part. Moderate quarters do not seem displeased at the report, but newspapers are hardly optimistic of any results. "The Times" Rome correspondent says the tendency in Fascist circles is to decry the report, as the author is e democrat, and was sponsored bv democratic Powers. Nevertheless, commercial opinion is inclined to be sympathetic, as the report offers a means of obtaining credits which are vitally necessary, as Abyssinia and Spain are slowly sucking Italy's capital dry. There is also a strong feeling that the pursuit for eelf-sufficiency has been pushed too far, and is driving up prices and causing widespread hardship These considerations may lead Signor Mussolini to view the Van Zeeland report more attentively.