The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun. SATURDAY, AUGUST 26, 1939. A WORLD IN SUSPENSE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 201, 26 August 1939, Page 8

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

SATURDAY, AUGUST 26, 1939. A WORLD IN SUSPENSE.

For the cause that lucks assistanoc, For the wrong that reeds resistance, For the future in ihe distance, And the good that ice can do.

AVhcn the British Government suddenly summoned Parliament to meet on Thursday it apparently had reason to fear that Germany's diplomatic coup in Moscow would be followed almost at once hv decisive action against Poland. While warning Ciermany of the consequences, it steeled itself anil the nation for the shock. Both it and the nation are ready. "Some time in these fundamental matters," wrote .Mr. J. L. Garvin last. month, "we had to come down to bedrock. The hour was sure to sound when before the world's gaze we would have to reveal ourselves for ever and ever as what we are. Shoddy or true? Either a demora'ised democracy, indeed, or a people as strong as peace-loving and as great as free." Well, the British people have revealed themselves for what they are, and so plainly that their simple determination should not be misunderstood anvwhere.

The feared shock has not yet conic. It has been withheld. Why? There is at the moment of writing no clear explanation. If the statements in the Polish newspapers are an accurate reflection of the official view, the Polish Government is not to bo intimidated; it has not receded one inch since May .">, when Colonel Beck declared that two conditions were necessary for the word "peace" to have any value. The tirst was "peaceful intentions," the second, "peaceful methods of action." The Poles, lie said, did not know the conception "peace at nny price." Since then German intentions and German methods of actions have been indicated beyond doubt, but the Poles have not flinched. Their guarantors have not flinched. It may be that their combined stand is having its effect on Ilerr Hitler. That is a possibility, but it would be a dangerous assumption. The Xazis are waging a "war of nerves"; they may still hope that by sustaining suspense they will cause their opponents to weaken. HenHitler was to speak at Tanncnberg to-morrow, but the celebration has been cancelled, possibly because the celebration at this moment of a victory over Russia might be thought by Germany's new-found friend to be slightly lacking in tact.

Meanwhile there are signs that the Rtisso-German pact, which at first appeared ns a master-stroke of bold diplomacy, may have boomerang effects for Germany. The German people, taught that "everything the Fuehrer does is right," may stomach it, but among Germany's associates it seems to be an emetic. The steel of the Kome-Berlin axis is softening at the Italian end, giving rise to doubt whether Kignor Mussolini has in fact committed himself irretrievably to German policies and to the hope that, with suitable encourugement from Britain and France, he may decide that neutrality is the better part of valour. Spain, despite the help given General Franco by German war 'planes, munitions and technicians, has already declared lier neutrality. The Spanish people are not so "conditioned" by propaganda that they could be called to witness the German pact with Communism with any feeling but disgust. And in the Far East the Japanese, yesterday toying with the idea of a military alliance with Germany, appear disgruntled and disillusioned. These arc signs which Britain and France are justified in regarding with pleasure and hopeful anticipation. If Ilerr Hitler can be checked in Eastern Europe now, his pact with Russia may in the future be seen to have marked the beginning of his decline.