The Guardian TUESDAY, MAY 28, 1935. GERMANY AND THE POWERS

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LVI, Issue 42, 28 May 1935, Page 4

The Guardian

TUESDAY, MAY 28, 1935. GERMANY AND THE POWERS

Printed at Leeston, Canterbury, New Zealand, on Tuesday and Friday afternoons.

_ The Treaty of Versailles delivered Germany, bound hand and foot,, to the Allied Powers, but in the intervening years much has been done, mainly through the generosity and fair-mindedness of CSreat Britain, to loose those bonds, to give the German Republic an opportunity to rehabilitate itself and to take the place in the family of nations which is undoubtedly its right. Since the advent of Hitler and the Nazis to supreme power, the truculent behaviour of German leaders has given rise to many serious doubts and uneasy feelings. Under a pretence of reviving the disheartened spirits of the German people and restoring their self-respect, many things have been done in the reorganising of the military power of Germany in a manner which is causing serious alarm to its neighbours. Whether there is any serious intention behind it all, or whether it is merely giving expression to the German love for soldierly marching and militaiy displays, it is hard to say; but there is little wonder that apprehensions should be felt by neighbouring States who fear what Nazi Germany will do next; there is little to marvel at that no progress can be made with disarmament. As Sir Austen Chamberlain recently wrote: "There will be no settlement in Europe so long as Germany is on one side of the fence and the other leadingcountries on the other." What has been done by the Great Powers on their side of the fence is summarised by Mr J. L. Garvin: "We have worked for the complete moral liquidation of the war. There has been a generous revulsion against the Treaty of Versailles. Nothing could be more untrue than to say that the exAllies on their side have done nothing to mitigate the provisions of that instrument. Its -worst features were the financial clauses. They were wiped out largely owing to the heroic exertions of the Prime Minister, whose name is never mentioned with gratitude by the beneficiaries. The evacuation of the Bhineland was carried out five years in advance of the treaty limit; the retrocession of the Saar was facilitated in the most frank and cordial spirit; not to speak of the continual reduction of the former relative power of Britain. It is difficult to see what more could have been done amidst the complicated conditions of postwar Europe. But there have been no thanks for any of it. On the contrary, it is part of the Nazi system that they shall take all the merit to themselves." Sir Austen Chamberlain described something of what was on the other side of the fence when he wrote: "On the other side of the account figures the demand for an army of 550,000 men, a navy within 35 per cent, of British tonnage, and an air force equal to that of France or England. Finally, a refusal to return to the League of Nations unless the former German colonies are returned. Meanwhile every platform and pulpit in this country rings with denunciations of war and iri every school and gathering in Germany war is glorified and the doctrine again preached that might is right." A

German, writer, Dr. Rudolf Breitscheid, described what he considered, were the three strong supports of National Socialism: "First, brute force, aided by bayonets, dominating administration, justice and culture, and superintending and ordering the life of the citizen, or rather the vassal, in every detail; secondly, the mystic faith in the Messianic qualities of the Leader; and < finally, an overheated national consciousness." Now Herr Hitler has presented his long-expected declaration of Germany's attitude towards the preservation of peace and disarmament. Therein he declared that peace was essential for the completion of Germany's tasks, and he spoke at length on suggestions' of what Germany would do in the direction of limiting arms if other nations would do the same. His speech was certainly pacific in tone and if sincerely meant should be a wonderful contribution to the strengthening of international peace. The only way to test it would be to take Germany at its word and explore along the lines of Herr Hitler's proposals the possibility of an international understanding which would relax the tension now felt by European governments.