THE EBB AND FLOW OF WORLD AFFAIRS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 256, 25 July 1936, Page 9

THE EBB AND FLOW OF WORLD AFFAIRS

Changes In Sweden (By Argus.) Last month the cables told briefly of a change of Government in Sweden and now overseas papers are to hand to explain how this came about. The last Premier, M. Hansson, had been in power for four years—and durinc that time had accomplished a good deal for Sweden. With the proceeds of high death duties and property taxes his Socialist regime had prosecuted a bold public works scheme that succeeded in reducing unemployment from 190,000 to 50,000, or less than 1 per cent, of the population. Also, unlike some other Governments, the Swedish Socialists contrived to make certain State-owned industries yield handsome returns with consequent benefit to the people. Yet throughout his period in office Hansson ruled only by the grace of the small Agrarian Party whose 37 votes alone enabled him to retain a majority. Last month, with the elections due in September, tb® Agrarians decided to make their presence felt, and withdrew their support, which had previously been granted. in return for schemes to help farmers. Actually the break was over defence expenditure which Hansson. as an internationalist and pacifist, was averse to increasing sufficiently to meet the desires of the Right, who have a growing fear of Germany’s might. When he saw he was certain to be defeated, however, the Premier chose to fall on a more popular issue and the immediate cause of his resignation was a proposal to increase the pensions vote. Thereupon Axel Bramstorp, tho Agrarian leader, succeeded in forming a Centre Coalition Ministry. Africa aud Colonies.

American sources do not hesitate to suggest that behind the recent talk of incorporating Swaziland, Basutoland and Bechuanaland in the Union of South Africa is an attempt by the Union to drive a hard bargain with Britain. With the Mother Country now having doubts about the safety of its Mediterranean seaway and thinking of fortifications near -Cape Town s to guard the alternative route, it is suggested that South Africa, in retjirn for acquiescing in Britain’s desire in this respect, is .seeking to extend its own territory. A further reason advanced is that South Africa has always been haunted by the fear of a black rising and wishes to have tinlarge numbers of natives in the neighbouring protectorates under her more immediate control. It is even said that, in return for naval defence by Britain, South Africa would undertake the protection of all colonies as far north as Abyssinia. In the meantime South Africa is proposing to spend considerable sums on aeroplanes and armaments. So far as the three protectorates mentioned are concerned, however, the position appears to have been settled for the time being at any rate by a statement in the House of Commons that Britain’s undertaking not to make any change without the consent of the inhabitants of the protectorates and the British Parliament still held good and that General Hertzog, in his recent reference to a union of the three protectorates with the South African Union, was merely voicing a hope and not foreshadowing definite action. Giving Up Mandates.

Tired of almost continual trouble in Syria, over which she holds a mandate, France has decided to grant independence to the area, for which purpose it will be divided into the two States of'Syria and Lebanon. France, however, will retain troops in specified areas, will undertake the protection of minorities and will endeavour to keep strong trade links with the new States. For years past the Syrian nationalists have agitated fiercely for independence from French rule and much bloodshed has resulted on a number of occasions. Recently the agitation has taken the form of an eight months’ boycott of the French Government and French goods with threats of more serious trouble. Finally an zArab delegation went to Paris and an agreement was reached. Arabs in Syria, together with those in other areas, are still resentful that T. E. Lawrence’s ideal of a united Arab State was prevented from becoming a reality. Arabs Coming Together. <

Observers of the trend of events in the Near East continue to talk of the possibility of the establishment of an Arab empire, and this ideal is thought to be at the back of the minds of several Arab leaders. Ibn Saud, the powerful ruler of Arabia, besides consolidating bis position in his own country, has improved relations with Transjordan, whose ruler, the Emir Abdullah, is a son of the late King Hussein of the Hedjaz, and concluded an important agreement bringing about friendly relations with Iraq. This step created a deep impression in tlie Arab world. The Imam of Yemen, an area tucked away in the south-western corner of Arabia, against whom Ibn Saud not so long ago conducted a successful campaign, sent a mission to sign the pact. Most important of all is the more reccut treaty of friendship between Egypt and Arabia. Relations between these two nations have been far from friendly since in 1926 some of Ibn Saud’s Wahabis tired on the Egyptian guard accompanying the holy Mahmal, a sacred Mohammedan object, ou the pilgrimage to Mecca. Egypt has always been considered the cultural centre of Islam, says an English journalist at Cairo, and in view of Ibn Saud's diplomatic successes his enemies in Egypt felt that the latter country could not retain its leadership of the Moslem world without having Ibn Saud on its side.

Spanish Revolution. Although Spain has now been in the throes of a bloody civil war for a week and many lives have been lost and immense damage caused, the issue as between the Government of Left Wing parties and the rebel monarchists and Fascists still hangs in the balance. Il is clear that the rebels retain a firm hold on Spanish Morocco but in Spain itself fortunes have fluctuated and battles to Come will decide tlie issue. In these the Government will have the advantage of numbers but a great many of its troops are hastily-conscrip-ted civilians. The rebels, on the other hand, have the support of a large section of the regular army, so that tlie ultimate issue does not lend itself to prediction with any degree of certainty.

A Treaty Record. This sounds like a fairy tale, but a reputable American journalist, commenting on Portugal’s long-standing friendship witli Britain, asserts in all seriousness that Portugal’s foreign pol icv is based on an agreement with Britain so ancient that it has become a national tradition —it was signed at Windsor on May 9, 1386, "for ever,”