THE EBB AND FLOW OF WORLD AFFAIRS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 196, 16 May 1936, Page 11

THE EBB AND FLOW OF WORLD AFFAIRS

Catching Kidnappers (By Argus.) Things have indeed come to a pretty pass in the gangster industry in the United States nowadays and kidnappers in particular can hardly call their liberty their own. Within the short space of a few days three notorious kidnappers, together with one or two accomplices, have been caught in various parts of the country and. charged with crimes up to more than two years old. In one fell swoop almost, Public Enemies Nos. 1,2 and 3 have been rounded up, and the courts, entering fully into the spirit of things, have speedily sentenced two to life imprisonment with a third escaping only with tlie scant consolation that his sentence is 60 years. Who the present Public Enemy No. 1 is we have not been told, but he must be shaking in his shoes, and is probably not at all pleased to find that he has suddenly succeeded to eminence in his calling when hut a short time ago he occupied a humble position several places down the list of public enemies. By the same token, tlie famous G men have proved conclusively that they are something far more than a band of men who have firmed lucrative subjects for a numbei of recent films. They have certainly won the first rounds in their war against crime and seem destined to play a notable part in maintaining law and order in America. Schuschnigg’s Stroke. With Austria generally regarded as one of the greatest danger spots, if not the greatest, in Europe more than usual interest attaches to the events of the last few days in that country. One or two items of news about a fortnight ago rather indicated that things were moving politically. Following a bribery scandal the Nazis intensified their propaganda and members of the Austrian Legion who fled into Germany after the unsuccessful revolt of 1934 were said to be returning to the country. At the same time Prince Starhemberg’s Fascist Heimwehr was quarrelling with the Chancellor, Dr. Schuschnigg’s Storm Troops and rumours were abroad that a Hehnwehr coup was imminent. But Dr. Schusehnigg has acted first and, by reconstructing his Cabinet and dropping Prince Starhemberg, has dpalt a blow to both Nazism and Fascism. At the same time he has made himself virtual dictator. Up to the present Dr. Schuschnigg’s Catholic or clerical party has not enjoyed a great measure of support and his Government has been thought to rest upon pretty insecure foundations. One fact In its favour is that there are several rival factions of approximately similar strength in Austria and possibly none has felt sufficiently strong to attempt: anything drastic on its own. The new, dictator, although he has up to the present not given much indication that he is of the stuff of which other European dictators are made, may by strong action consolidate his position and ak tract support. Starhemberg’s Future. In the meantime observers will be wondering what Star* hemberg will do. He has been regarded as the strong man, almost the virtual ruler, of Austria. Au ardent Fascist and admirer of Mussolini, he has had at his back the well-armed Hcimwehr, and the support of Austria’s “pocket Zaharoff,” Fritz Mandi, the armaments manufacturer. London saw evidence in the composition of the new Cabinet that the Prince bad been discredited among his own followers, but a cable elsewhere on this page shows him to be in a-defiant mood. It certainly seems unlikely, in any case, that the Heimwehr will tamely submit to being disarmed, a step the Chancellor is said to contemplate. Frencli Political Stage. Before the echoes of the election have died away and before a new Government has been formed, signs have appeared that French political parties are up to their traditional manoeuvring. This time the Communists, after combining with the other Left Wing parties for election purposes, have refused to join the Government, being “determined to keep their freedom and to manoeuvre, hoping that their doctrinal purity will eventually be rewarded at the expense of the Socialists, as M. Blum’s party (Socialists), was at the expense of the Radicals. Meanwhile they will ‘ginger up’ the Socialists.” The Communists followed this up by saying that they would form an “outside Ministry of the masses,” and are suspected of designs to form some kind of Soviet organisation. Now, later still, the Communists have said that, while remaining outside the Government, they will give it loyal support. Since their support is vital to the Popular Front, however, it is not unlikely that they will try to exact some concessions as the price of this support. Thus the situation bids fair to end up as it usually does iu France with several parties whose allegiance is necessary to the Government trying to get something for themselves out of the combination "The truth has to be stated bluntly,” wrote an English commentator recently, “that, with the majority of French politicians party interests come first and country afterward. The lust for power nnd nil that power connotes is stronger than the wish to promote the best interests of the country. When nil this is remembered, tlie complaint of the average Frenchman —‘We are badly governed’—is easily understood.’ Japan and Militarists.

Two events in Japan within the past few days may be interpreted as fresh setbacks to the military party. The Emperor, who lias several times lately departed from precedent in his dealings with the army since the Tokio rising, did so again at the opening of the Diet, when he openly rebuked the army for its part in the insurrection. The' Emperor, who is, of course, regarded by Japanese with great reverence, has unmistakably shown that he favours the moderates. When, after tlie rising, all the seven army members of the Supreme War Council resigned, with the exception of the Imperial princes, the Emperor did not maintain his neutrality in the civilianmilitary conflict by rejecting the resignations'. Instead lie accepted them, finding new positions for some of the generals and sending the more aggressive ones into retirement. This week, too, comes news that Lieutenant-Col-onel Aizawa has been sentenced to death for the murder of Major-General Nagata. This murder was one of the early signs of (lie revolt among a section’of the army for it was felt that Major-General Nagata, :is Director of Military Affairs, was punishing army officers who had shown political activity by retarding their military advancement.