A BACKGROUND TO THE NEWS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 113, 6 February 1935, Page 7

A BACKGROUND TO THE NEWS

Splendid Isolation In connection with the outcome of the conversations between French and British statesmen and the drawing* up of an “aerial Locarno,” the “Daily Express,” which advocates “splendid isolation,” opposes the new departure. The term “splendid; isolation” was used by Mr. (afterwards Viscount) Goschen, a member of Lord-Salisbury’s Cabinet, - toward the end of the last century, to describe Britain’s freedom from entangling alliances with other great Powers. The other Powers of Europe had combined ; for certain periods at different times, and toward the end of the nineteenth century much was heard of the Triple Alliance (composed of Germany, Austria and Italy) and the Dual Alliance (composed of France and Russia). While diplomatically favouring the Triple Alliance, Britain kept aloof from definite commitments. In the use of the term “isolation” had reference to the standing apart, "splendid” to the power which she undoubtedly exercised in spite of her disadvantage in being unsupported in her policy by any of the other Great Powers. The conclusion of the AngloJapanese Alliance in 1902 somewhat broke into the tradition that Great Bri. tain should not entangle herself with the affairs of other nations. Another step was taken in the break from tradition by the terms of the Entente Cordiale between England, France and Russia, which, , though frequently denied to be so, was looked upon by the world as a counter-blast to the Triple Alliance and designed to maintain the “Balance of Power.”' Each group believed itself too powerful for the other group to dare to attack it. Locarno Pact.

Commenting ou the outcome of the discussions between the French and British statesmen the London ‘’Times” says “the agreement may be the most valuable contribution to European peace since the Locarno Pact, as it has boldly faced .the twin problems of German equality and French security.” The Locarno Conference met on October 3, 1925. It was the first time that Germany had come into conference unequivocally on an equal footing with her former foes and as a promoter of peace. The work of the conference was done in an atmosphere of unprecedented goodwill. The agreements arrived at, when ratified by the respective governments, were embodied in the Treaties of London, commonly referred to as the “Locarno Pact,” in December. All the conference powers guaranteed the French-German-Belgian frontiers and the conditions applied to the demilitarised zone under the Versailles treaty. Germany and France, and. Germany and Belgium, pledged themselves not to resort to war against each other except in defence against an act of flagrant aggression; to refer disputes, where they could not agree among themselves, to some form of judicial decision, and at once to report any violation of the terms to the League of Nations; all the signatory Powers pledging immediate support to the aggrieved party if the League confirmed the charge. On September 10, 1926, Germany entered the League of Nations. '.i Germany and the League. Herr Hitler has repeated his former • statement that Germany will not reenter the League of Nations. Germany entered the League oh September 10, 1926, and gave notice of her withdrawal on October 21,1933. As two years must elapse before the withdrawal becomes effective, Germany will not cease to be a member until October of this year. The reason for Germany’s withdrawal was the refusal of the other Powers to recognise her demand for equality, which carried with it the right to arm as freely, as the other Powers were doing. Herr Hitler described the League of Nations as being “of no practical value.” “We demand equal rights for Germany in disarmament, and we appeal to the Treaty of Versailles,” he said. The Treaty embodied a statement to the effect that the disarming of Germany after the war was to be the first step toward general world disarmament. . - - Spain’s Royal Family.

A Bill is being introduced .in the Cortes (the Spanish Parliament) to entitle the ex-Royal family, excepting ex-King Alfonso, to dispose of their Spanish property, which was prohibits ed in 1931. Ex-Queen Ena’s personal effects will be returned to her. Spain was proclaimed a republic on April 14, 1931. On that day Alfonso XIII, King of Spain from his birth on May 17,1886, left the country by a cruiser, and his Queen and the Royal family left by train to join him in self-imposed exile in France. On November 20,1931, King Alfonso was declared by the Cortes guilty of high treason, and outlawed, and ins private fortune in Spain, about £1,000,000, was confiscated on June 19, 1932. His landed estates and palaces were taken over soon after,his downfall. Queen Ena is a daughter of a sister of the late King Edward VII. Germany’s Ex-Colonies.

The Germans are said to be speculating whether the question of the return of their colonies may be raised in connection with Herr Hitler’s demand for equality of rights. It will be impossible to understand the strength of colonial sentiment in Germany, unless it is-re-membered that colonial enterprise goes back in that country to the end of the 17th century, when small settlements were established on the West African coast. In the middle of the last century there was a revival of interest in the colonies, but in the ; disunited condition of the nation (prior to 1870) it failed to capture the public imagination to any large extent. The modern colonial movement dates from 60 years ago. During the whole of last century, however, a fine work of exploration and discovery had been done in all parts of Africa by German travellers, scientists and missionaries. When the war broke out in August, 1914, it was at once carried into all Germany’s colonies. In any recasting of the Versailles Treaty the question of the German colonies, taken possession of by the Allies after the war, and since administered by one or other of them as mandate areas under the League of Nations, must play a leading part. Recently the German Colonial Party passed a resolution at a conference claiming return of the colonies in accordance with one of the points of the Hitler programme. The main consideration in the restoration of the colonies is whether Germany’s reappearance as a colonial Power (which would necessarily mean possession by her of a navy) would help to promote world peace. If Germany had the will to break the peace would she have more, power to do so with colonies or without? .