The Press THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1936. The War of Doctrines

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21974, 24 December 1936, Page 10

The Press THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1936. The War of Doctrines

Mr Eden has made many statements on foreign policy in the last few weeks, and in all of them he has returned to the same theme: the determination of the British Government not to be drawn into the war of political creeds which is being fought out with bullets and high explosives in Spain and with money and propaganda in almost every other country in Europe. "The British text for co-operation in foreign "affairs," he told the House of Commons on December 14, " is not a country's form of government but its willingness to keep peace "with its neighbours and to honour its obli- " gations." As a common-sense guide in the immediate difficulties of the European situation, this principle has much to commend it. And so far as it means that Great Britain will not attempt to influence domestic politics in other countries it needs no apology or qualification. But it is nevertheless dangerous to suppose that Great Britain can remain indifferent to the conflict of political philosophies which is sundering Europe or that she can frame a long-term foreign policy which takes no account of the political structures of the States affected by that policy. The willingness of a State to keep peace with its neighbours and honour its obligations depends, in part at any rate, on its system of government. To regard the German Government's signature to a treaty a. being of the same value as the signature of the French Government is not broadmindedness; it is lack of realism. This is not to say that members of the German Government are consciously dishonest when they periodically protest that their intentions are peaceful. It is merely to say that the National Socialist regime is, by its very nature, under the fatal compulsion to justify itself by dramatic achievements in foreign policy. Unless it can maintain a continual atmosphere of crisis, its existence is imperilled. That is why Signor Mussolini affirms so frequently that he does not regard perpetual peace as possible or desirable, and that is why Herr Hitler claims for the German State the right to make its own morality. Moreover, although the British Government may desire earnestly to keep out of the war of doctrines, neutrality is rapidly becoming impossible. "As long as there exist free de- " mocracies in Europe," writes Professor Ferrero, " Fascism and Nazism will be exposed "to the disintegrating influences emanating "from the example of the relative prosperity " which the free regimes enjoy. But the totalitarian regimes are beginning to become "themselves a danger to the free democracies. "Since Fascism established itself in Germany, "Fascist movements have developed in all the "free countries. They owe their development "to the encouragement and support they re"ceive from the Fascist countries, for which "the weakening and downfall of the democra"cies is essential." Events in Spain prove the truth of this statement. Both Germany and Italy have poured men, money, and munitions into Spain because they cannot afford to let General Franco fail. In this instance the British Government has declared that it cannot take sides. Possibly the decision was a wise one. But if democracy is crushed out of existence in Spain, it is more than likely that France and Belgium will be the next countries to feel the pressure of the Fascist offensive. Belgium, indeed, is already beginning to feel the pressure; the dramatic rise of the Rexist party in the recent elections was clearly the result of German influence. And if democracy is threatened in France and Belgium, Great Britain cannot possibly remain indifferent, since the stability of her own political institutions will be threatened. It should be added that the situation which confronts the British Government at the present time is not a new one. There was a war of political doctrines in Europe in the first half of the nineteenth century; but the British governments of that period did not attempt to hold aloof from it or suppose that they could hold aloof if they wanted to.