NAZI DIPLOMACY NOT OMNIPOTENT

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 157, 29 March 1941, Page 12

NAZI DIPLOMACY NOT OMNIPOTENT

Ending Of Big Stick Era AN ORDINARY MAN’S VIEW OF THE WAR (By OIISEBVEIt.) In all the turbulent history of this amazing world was (here ever such a war as this? It is strange beyond the imaginings of a scatter-brained .novelist. Its 18 months have divided themselves equally between unholy quiet and furious noise. It has been hardly less a diplomatic war than a military—so far. Just now we are the spectators of fantastic goings ou iu the Balkans. What tragedy, what comedy are being played there before our incredulous eyes. ' Look at Yugoslavia. Un Wednesday the gloomy souls one meets here and there were muttering, “What did I tell you? Ribbentrop’s got the Serbs in the bag. Another diplomatic victory for the Axis.” The Prime Minister of Japan can be pardoned for thinking the same thought and wiring congratulations to the German Fuehrer. On Thursday night our gloomy folk were obliged to revise their ideas of Ribbentroppian diplomacy. Prince Konoye no doubt wished he hadn’t been so quick at the telegraph office and would much like to save face. Tragedy for the friends, of democracy had dramatically given place to comedy when the angry Yugoslavs swapped rulers early in the morning. Come back Peter Fly away Paul. Wellington reacted cheerfully to the news yesterday. “Bill,” I asked my triend the newsvendor, “did you sell many papers?” “Did I what?” he said. “Did they rush them. Did they look happy? Did I sell out?” From which I gather they did. Bravo, the Yugoslavs! Like the Greeks and—who will doubt it—the Turks, they are a people with read courage and backbone. It takes these qualities to stand up to Hitler when you are not a very big fellow. The revolt or the Yugoslavs has blown up the myth of Nazi diplomatic omnipotence. If there is one type of mentality which more than another provokes me to wrath it is that which confesses a sneaking admiration for the fancied magic of Nazi diplomacy. Now and again one runs across an individual who is hypnotized by Hitler’s achievements In the chancelleries of Europe. This individual points to the collapse of Hungary, Rumania and Bulgaria—neutrals apparently in full possession of their faculties—who placed their necks in the Nazi noose. What secret formula, what selling point for the New Order, what heady intoxicant was the ex-champagne salesman peddling for Germany that we didn't know about and ought to be in on? There is no magic and no secret. Nor is Ribbentrop a diplomatic wizard. It is not the man but the method. With the rise of Hitler German diplomacy crossed over from arbitration to the big stick. It was the dread diplomacy of “Either or — That is primarily what this war is about. Up to Danzig the “either” and “or” were the prerogative of Hitler. The guarantee to Poland was Britain s retort. It meant “Either you agree to arbitration or we fight.” It was a new one for Hitler. He imagined however, he could continue to get away with it. Hence the war b , It will go on till he is made to understand, and every German in years to come understands, that the destinies of nations are not going to be determined by the bully’s bludgeon accompanied with a menacing “Either —- This truth must be blasted and belted into the German people. There is no other way. If this war is made a horrible thing for them they may yet be made to grasp that arbitration and not violence is the more excellent way.

King Peter and England.— When on October 9, 1934, King Alexander of Yugoslavia was assassinated at Marseilles, his heir. Peter, then aged 11, was attending Sandroyd preparatory school in Surrey. It was his fathers wish that the boy should be educated to love England and the English. Also he wanted the lad. to fit himself to bo a king like the King of England—a democratic ruler without airs and haughteur. The news from Belgrade suggests that young Peter acquired an affection for England which could not permit him to turn against his real friends. In any case he has a close attachment with the present King of England, who Is his godfather. N.Z. War Correspondent— l learn that Mr. J. H. Hall, who was appointed official correspondent with the 2nd N.Z.E.F., and who was with the second echelon during its long stay in England, has relinquished that appointment. The official correspondent is now Mr Robin Miller, who went to Egypt with the first echelon as a combatant and who was subsequently appointed by the Government as a correspondent to cover the activities of our troops in the Middle East. With the development of General Wavell’s campaign, Mr. Miller was in a position to send a number of very readable dispatches on the part New Zealand men played In the operations. 1 understand that Mr. Hall, who is also now in the Middle East, has taken up other duties associated with the N.Z.E.F ' Air Force Magazine,— A new monthly magazine called “Contact” has made its appearance. It is the official journal of the Royal New Zealand Air Force initial training wing at Levin. As a journalistic product It is very good indeed, and does credit to the I>ersoiinel at Levin who are responsible for a wealth of topical articles, Ah Force news, cartoons, art drawings and paragraphs. In a foreword Air Commodore 11. W. E. Saunders, Chief of the Air Staff, writes, “This promises to be a journal of considerable value as a record of the activities of R.N.Z.A.F. Station. Levin, and it should provide the means for establishing and maintaining closer relationships between R.N.Z.A.F. personnel and the public, and between the various units of the service.”

Take Care of > ourself— l'J-K. (Thorudon) sends in this paragraph written by Father Owen Dudley in the “Catholic Herald.” London I can sympathize (he says) with the child who prayed during a heavy air raid in these words: “Dear God, do take care of Yourself, because if anythin." happens to You we’re sunk.” Anti-aircraft firing at heaven, no airraid precautions up there, no stars blacked out. I like the prayer, because even if not quite theological, it expresses very forcibly our complete and utter dependence upon Almighty God. I suppose, in a general way, that dedependence is recognized, even by those who do not openly practise religion.