THE WAR BLUFF.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 192, 16 August 1939, Page 18

THE WAR BLUFF.

Veritas believes that Mr. Chamber-' ?ain will prove to be the greatest peacemaker of all times; Veritas should have added at the expense of small nations fed to dictators by way of appeasements. History as I see it has already proved that a firmer stand by Britain in the League of Nations coul'l not have brought about worse conditions than prevail to-day. History has also proved that Hitler was afraid of <1 plebiscite in Austria: that the flower of the German Army, which Britain feared, broke down on the Linz-Visnna road on its way into Austria. Although Chamberlain assured Hitler, through the American Press, about the middle of May, 1938. that he would carve Up Czechoslovakia by way of appeasements, history showed that a'strong stand taken by the Czechs called Hitler's bluff, and he converted his advance into Czechoslovakia into manoeuvres and used the radio to let off steam. History again showed in September the Czechs manning their frontier against Hitler's marching forces, and again Hitler called his war dogs off; certainly, with a little urging by Sir Neville Henderson who, no doubt, his tor y will prove to have whispered to Hitler that he would be given Czechoslovakia without fighting for it—more Chamberlain and Co.'s appeasements. I have liked to think that past history showed Britain 011 the side of the small nation and the oppressed, with no special care for what it would cost her; but then mv knowledge of history was neglected, because when I should* have been at Univeristy studying history I was in France taking pot shots at Germans, who returned the compliment, because that seemed to be the custom of the day. We agreed that there seemed 110 other real, reason for it. Finally, I would suggest to % eritas that whereas Chamberlain and Co.'s policy may not be entirely to save capitalism, it is in favour of a fourPower pact, which would include Hitler and Mussolini, and that he would sacrifice any nation, including Xew Zealand or Australia, to check the rise of Socialism and Capitalism; and, for Veritas and his like Hitler and Co. maintain a valuable fifth column which seems to do grand work. DIGGER.