A BACKGROUND OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 138, 6 March 1940, Page 8

A BACKGROUND OF THE WAR

Treaty Of Versailles JUST, DESPITE MANY IMPERFECTIONS The comparison between the Treaties of Versailles ami Brest-Litovsk, made by the 8.8. C. in its monthly review of Nazi propaganda, draws attention to the conception of justice among the leaders of Nazi Germany. The Germany of 1918, alter defeating the Russian armies, made demands from Russia that would seriously have Impaired her future progress. The Germany of the Nazis, by its actions in Czechoslovakia and Poland, lias clearly revealed its hand in the typo of ‘‘justice’’ it imposed on subjugated populations. Yet it is this nation that has hurled Europe into war, partly because of the “injustice” of the Treaty of Versailles. “Versailles was, on the whole, a just treaty despite many imperfections,” is the editorial opinion expressed in the November issue of the “Nineteenth Century.” Defence of Versailles ■it justly deprived Germany of regions inhabited by nou-Germans. It justly exacted reparations for damage done in a war of German aggression—it is true that the sums first demanded were unreasonable, but they were progressively reduced and Germany borrowed the money to pay them—she paid just about as long as the borrowed money lasted. . . . “The limitation of German armaments (Germany was never disarmed) and the occupation of the Rhineland were altogether just because they were the only guarantees of a lasting peace. They were just to the German people. . . . They were less than just to the liberated nations who had no defence against a rearmed. Germany. “The ‘injustice’ of Versailles is a legend created by German Nationalist and National Socialistic propaganda, a legend which did not find general acceptance even among Germans till most of the clauses in the treaty which had been denounced as unjust had become inoperative, and the hatred and bitterness engendered by the war were dying a natural death. Hatred Revived

"Eyen then the legend was not accepted by all till it was imposed on the entire nation by terrorism and injustice, incomparably 7 greater than any that had been endured at the hands of a foreign foe. Expiring hatred and bitterness were artificially revived by Hitler and his associates with the deliberate purpose of precipitating another war.”

Not the treaty, but the failure to enforce it, was the chief injustice, contends the writer, who adds that in the second World War the Allies must achieve one aim that will be the absolute condition of victory—security. If that is not achieved then Germany, though defeated in the field, will have won the war because she will have won the peace. “How is that security to be achieved? Not by any abstract or ideal scheme — not by the present or any other League of Nations, not by ‘Federal Union’ and the like. These will not only be worthless in themselves, but will be positively dangerous because they will conceal the insecurity of Europe beneath a fictitious security—if the one condition remains unfulfilled. That condition is the permanent armed ascendancy of the Western Powers. Vital War AiA “This ascendancy may not seem a very constructive or inspiring war aim —but unless it is achieved', our victory will be in vain and the Third World War will be made certain. “The .preciser nature of the ascendancy whnch must be permanently ours is unpredictable. One thing is essential to it. Whatever may be done to the pol'itic&l and economic unity of the Germans), their strategic unity must be broken, in the interest) of our own security, of European security as a Whole, and in common justice to all, now and for generations to come. The Rhine must for ever become the strategic frontier of the Western Powers. “We have-—and must have —other war aims as well, such as the restoration of the Polish, Czechoslovak, and. possibly, Austrian Republics, though not necessarily within their old frontiers. But these aims will have been achieved in vain and the new European order ■will be overthrown as the old was overthrown if the German troops are ever again allowed to cross the Rhine.”

Dominions’ Help Frequent references have been made .by leading British statesmen to the great encouragement given to the people of the British Isles by the spontaneous support in a common cause from the Dominions and protectorates. Further evidence of this is supplied in a letter recently received by a resident of Wellington from the secretary of the National Rose Society of England, which states: “Yes, this wretched and so unnecessary war is a regular curse. As far as our country was concerned, we were bound to go in. Tile German brutes are aiming only at world domination, and did not for one moment think we would stand up to them, but we have, and it is splendid to see how the Colonies are backing us up and downing the Graf Spec. Send all the butter you can.” Aircraft From U.S.A. Taking his figures from authoritative sources, Major George Fielding Eliot, the American military expert, estimates the prospective deliveries of fighting types of aeroplanes to Great Britain and France by the end of 1940 at 3190 —1530 to Great Britain and 1660 to France. This estimate takes into account the pre-war orders now in delivery, and war-time orders and contracts pending. The prospective deliveries in 19-10 of basic and advanced training aeroplanes he estimates at 1185, 815 of which would go to Britain and 370 to France.

Major Eliot notes, however, that there is enough extra plant capacity for export purposes to swell the totals of possible deliveries before the end of 1940 to 5310 fighting and 2GSS training machines. He observes further that many of the training machines could be diverted to serve as fighters, and says that, though the defence needs of the United States will always be given priority over foreign war orders, it is possible it may be found that the defence services of the United Stales are in greater immediate need of I rained personnel lhan of additional aeroplanes: and the President has the power to release some additional aeroplanes Son export.