RANDOM NOTES

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 149, 20 March 1939, Page 8

RANDOM NOTES

Sidelights On Current Events (By Kickshaws). Every effort, it is contended, should be made to keep boxing clean. Those sponges better be thrown in at once. * * * The South Island, it is stated, is reported to be keen on the Exhibition being held in Wellington. Well, they should know. Just when we were begining to wonder where Czecho would be without Slovakia, things started to happen. * « * Hitler’s nickname of the “dry Napoleon” has come about from his policy of “frontiers of blood” which at first sight appears rather incongruous. The presence of German minorities across a border is exploited. In this case rights are demanded which would not be tolerated in regard to minorities already under the control of the Reich. Elsewhere pro-German sentiments are encouraged, specially among ruling cliques, to the very great advantage of Germany. Diplomatically there is nothing that can be said against such a policy, provided it does not cross 'the rather ill-defined border and become sedition. To back this type of campaign a special office has been created called the Auslandsorganization. It is the task of this office to give a practical turn to the claim that every German abroad owes direct service to the Fatherland. Indeed German communities abroad are disciplined by making things uncomfortable fo r relatives in Germany. Moreover, all Germans who stay abroad tor more than three months have to fill up a long questionnaire at the nearest Consular Office.

Systematic campaigns have been made by the German Auslandsorganization including even mandated territories under British control. Possibly events in South-west Africa may interest New Zealanders. In July, 1933, a Dr. Brenner arrived in Southwest Africa from Germany. He instituted provocative processions, had tho Union Jack hauled down and substituted the German flag. Union nationals of German origin were “asked” to make the following oath: “I swear I will bear unbreakable allegiance to Adolf Hitler and yield unconditional allegiance to leaders appointed by him over me.” Naturalized Germans in South-west Africa exercised their political rights through a political party entitled the Deutsche Bund. This Bund eventually became a machine pledged to foreign dictation. After continued interference from Berlin the Union Government took drastic action. If this sort of thing can take place in areas under British control, five thousand miles or more from Berlin, one begins to understand how Czechoslovakia disintegrated " across the home frontier of the Reich.

lu view of the powerful influence that Hitler’s methods of organizing a bloodless victory bad in South-West Africa, it is obvious that the democratic countries are, at the moment, alarmed at events in Europe. It seems assured that a series of rebuffs in France, America and Britain preclude any sensational Nazi success in these democratic countries. But there are other countries closer to these influences. One may well ask what will happen to them. Denmark has been finding it more and more difficult to cope with these tactics. This applies, in particular, to that part of Denmark which, by plebiscite under the Treaty of Versailles,- voted to return to Denmark. Germans have been systematically buying land on the Danish side of the border of this area. Alter the seizuie of Austria, Nazi influence was increased. South of the border the Danish minority, in contrast, has been absorbed by compulsion. Danish farmers near the border are unable to sell their laud to Danes. Only reliable Nazis are permitted to acquire the land. Parents who do not send their children to German schools, moreover, come undei suspicion.

What has been’ happening to Denmark has been taking place everywhere' along the German frontiers where there are small minorities of Germans across the boundary. Denmark is at present- tolerably safe, because Germany does not wish to affront Scandinavia, hoping that, in the event of war. the last-named country will remain neutral.if she does not throw iu her lot with Germany. Preparations for bloodless victories have been going ou for years along those parts of the Belgian frontier where conditions are suitable. This is specially the case in the districts of Eupen and Malmedy. Both areas were ceded by Germany under the Treaty of Versailles. These exiles, however, are small iu numbei, and by n 0 means enthusiastic soil for the propaganda seeds of the dry Napoleon. So far as Switzerland is concerned, Hitler received a sharp rebuff when similar methods were instituted. Nazi interference was tolerated with surprising patience for three years. In 1936, however, Nazi organizations were banned completely and the originators given their "running shoes.”

At the moment attention is directed not so much to bloodless victories over the .smaller minorities ou the fringes of the German frontiers ■as upou Poland any more, drastic Nazi action Poland changed her policy from wholehearted co-operation with France to non-aggressiou with Germany. Polaud thenceforward sat ou the proverbial fence. The Poles never permitted themselves to be dominated by Nazi influence, or become entangled in the net spread for them. Poland looked after her own interests when Hitler walked into Austria and subsequently signed the Munich Pact. At the time the Munich Paet was signed Poland had already retaliated by launching a campaign against the dry Napoleon. Moreover, in order not to alienate Poland any more, drastic Nazi action in Danzig has been shelved. Nobody knows which side of the fence Poland will get down, the German or the Russian. She must eventually make the choice. In Hungary the human material on which to build a dry victory numbers under one million out of a total population of nearly nine millions. Iu 1938 Germany outlined her attitude to Hungary, when it was announced by the head of the Auslaudsorganizatiou that he had no other wish than that the Germans of Hungary should remain loyal to Hungary. If Hitler'is determined to continue his drive to the south-east lie has little choice but to institute another dry victory in Hungary. Her next-door neighbour is Yugoslavia, under the special wing of II Duee. Hungary, maybe, will be permitted to remain independent, but virtually a vassal State to the Reich. Indeed, this would appear to be a certainty in the not-very-distant future. Germany would then be in a position sufficiently strong to “take on” the democratic countries, starting with France.