“FROM ONE CONQUEST TO ANOTHER”

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 199, 20 May 1936, Page 13

“FROM ONE CONQUEST TO ANOTHER”

j Mussolini’s Ambitions |SIR HERBERT HART SPEAKS I ON NEW SITUATION Dominion Special Service. Mastertoll, May lU. Pointed .reference to the unrest iu Europe, with particular regard to Germany, was made by Brigadier-General Sir 'Herbert -Hart when speaking in Masterton to-night at a farewell gathering arranged by the Wairarapa Returned Soldiers’ Association. “It does seem extraordinary. - ' he said, “after what we have already been through, that there should be'preparations for war in Europe. 1 had hopes that the League of Nttions would become a body that would be able to prevent war, but it is obvious that the time has not yet arrived.” The League could not stop nations wrangling, said Sir Herbert, who remarked that Mussolini had got his hands on to Abyssinia and was going to hold it. Dictators came into power by force and held their power by force, aiid Mussolini would gc from one conquest to another until he died. Hitler was 10 times more dangerous than Italy was under Mussolini. Sir Herbert recalled events in the early part of the 20th century when it was obvious to anyone who took more than a passing interest in affairs that Germany was actively preparing for war. War was bound to break out as Germany was determined to have world domination at that time.

He thought the activities of Great Britain put the last war off for live years. Germany’s aim for world domination was the cause of that war, but at the present time there were at least a dozen causes likely to start an outbreak of war. Germany now’ was not for a moment thinking of world domination, but she was working to get her old position in the world and was taking well-ordered s'teps in that direction. She .had got rid of the armament restrictions and had then stepped into the Rhine area. She had to do that before she could get back other territories ami when the opportunity arrived she would step out on the right to the Polish Corridor and to the southeast in an attempt to get back her former possessions. “Going to Happen.” “That is definitely going to happen and only a miracle can stop it unless Hitler dies,” Sir Herbert said. “Germany is going to do it as sure as the sun comes up in the morning, and at the iirst opportune moment. She would have done it at the time of the Abyssinian w - ar, but she was not ready. One need not feel pessimistic about what is going to. happen, but we should face up, to the possibility of it. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.” It seemed extraordinary that the position should be so, and he felt if war did arise the next generation would face any trouble that confronted England as was done in the past. He justified the Great War now it was over, and said, but for the attitude of England and her colonies, all our creeds, institutions and everything we considered worth while would have gone by the board.

“Bad as wars might be and much as we don't like them, we can look back through the past and see that Britain has taken the necessary steps to resist dangers as they have arisen. Wc have got to oppose piratical action in Abyssinia and Manehukuo.” His New Appointment.

Referring to his appointment as War Graves Commissioner, Sir Herbert remarked it had been a source of great satisfaction and joy to note the attitude of returned soldiers. A determining factor in his accepting the appointment was that he would be doing something for those who fell and for those who were left behind.

“In taking up this appointment I feel I am representing New Zealand overseas and the New Zealand division in particular.” Indications were Hint he would Ihj stationed at Jerusalem. No definite period was fixed and he did not know how long he would be away. He thought he had got rid of trouble when lie finished with Samoa, but conditions were very troublesome where he was going, ami it appeared they would continue so for some time. A. quarter of a million Jews had gone into Jerusalem in the last 10 years, and the territory was only as big as the strip from Wellington to Napier. The country was overcrowded, and while immigration continued the trouble was not likely to ease.