ON THE INTERNATIONAL FRONTS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 269, 10 August 1938, Page 10

ON THE INTERNATIONAL FRONTS

Viewing the international situation as a whole, it cannot he said that the signs point to a material improvement in the near future. The possibilities of a change for the better or the worse depend principally at the' moment on the development of events in the Far East and in Central Europe. The issue in Spain is still undetermined, and until a decision has been reached one way or the other the situation will continue to be a menace to peace. Another factor oi increasing anxiety to the British Government is the unrest in Palestine. Apart from the difficulty of reaching a compromise between the Jews and the Arabs, it is extremely awkward that the Government should have a problem of this kind on its hands at a time when its whole attention should be concentrated on the situation in Europe, and it would be still more awkward if that situation got out of hand with the Palestine problem still unsettled. The news from the Far East is by no means reassuring. Apart from the aggressive campaign of propaganda and intrigue conducted throughout the world under the aegis of the Communist International in Moscow, the Soviet Government itself has hitherto maintained a defensive attitude, refraining from aggressive tactics, but prepared, if necessary, to resist aggression. The present frontier clash, which both the Russian and Japanese Governments apparently are endeavouring to localise, is said to have resulted from a boundary dispute, in which case it should be possible, assuming the good faith of the respective Governments, to close'the incident. But there may be larger # issues in the background, issues not unconnected with the moves of Power politics in Europe. In that case the present encounter may simply be the prelude to a new and more dangerous situation. _ It may be the purpose of the strategy of the Berlin-Rome-Tokio axis to engage part of Russia’s strength in the Far East and thus weaken her power of manoeuvre in Europe should the course of events in Czechoslovakia bring her into a major conflict in defence of her ally. Such an entanglement would no doubt be of advantage Io Germany. Although Russia has complete army organisations for both the Far East and Europe, the defeat of either would place her at a serious disadvantage. What Japan lias to fear is a Russo-Chinese Communist front within striking distance of her own territory, and she may decide that the present frontier clash is indicative of a development with that end in view, especially if Russia refuses to compromise on the boundary issue. It would be rather optimistic to build too much on the assurances of peaceful intentions conveyed to Sir lan Hamilton in his interview with Herr Hitler. In evaluating these assurances it is necessary to relate them to the special objectives enunciated by Herr Hitler in his various statements on foreign policy. Although the. Fuehrer has frequently spoken of his detestation of war, and his desite for peace, both he and Signor Mussolini have been mainly responsible for keeping the international situation in a continual ferment. Herr Hitler has achieved several of his objectives by forcible measures, and there arc still other demands which remain unsatisfied. The British Government has adopted a policy of appeasement, but this policy is subject to the limitation that concessions cannot be made at. the. sacrifice of either Britain’s honour and her self-respect, or her vital iiiterests. The question fundamental to the whole problem of peace in Europe and in the world at present, is whether and to what extent the dictatorship States are willing to compromise on their demands, brom this point of view Czechoslovakia will be a test case. It has been remarked that if war can be avoided this year and the next, the chances of a more or less settled peace as far as Power politics are concerned will be greatly improved. Unhappily, the present course of events points the other way, and would seem to justify the grave apprehension voiced by Major-General Sir Andrew Russell, a few days ago that a major catastrophe was within the bounds of possibility before 1940. Britain, however, is making strenuous efforts to bring all concerned to reason, and with the steady increase in her armed strength her voice may have a more powerful influence man hitherto in achieving_this result.