MIXED MOTIVES

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 112, 7 November 1935, Page 29

MIXED MOTIVES

GERMANY AND ITALY

Although, the German Press is neutral in the dispute between Italy and Abyssinia, German official opinion is entirely pro-Italian, says the "Manchester Guardian." Official Germany thinks that Italy is right and Great Britain wrong—official Germany does not look upon the dispute as one between Italy and the League, but between .Italy and Great Britain; and' as for the Abyssinians, they are a coloured race, so that in German' eyes there can -be no question as to Italy's right, in fact duty, to colonise their country. It is this assumption with regard to coloured races ;which underlies' Ger r many's claim to colonies. The argument that .colonies ~are. needed, as, a source of raw material and as ah outlet for surplus population has a certain popular appeal,-but it is rejected by Hitler himself in .'-Mem; Kampf" and does not represent the main rea-> son for Germany's claim, which is based on conceptions of Germany's "civilising" .mission in the world and her desire for the attributes of world power. . . The inquiry into the distribution of raw materials suggested by Sir Samuel Hoare is,' it is understood, not meant to encourage the German claim to overseas possessions but rather to forestall that claim and establish the facts with regard to colonies as sources of raw material, facts that would rob the German argument of its force. Germany's real colonial aspirations are not directed across the' seas but to Eastern Europe, where she plans to resume the work begun by the Teutonic-knights. IF ITALY COLLAPSES. German official opinion does not.deplore war in Abyssinia. All the arguments used by Italy are Germany's own, and having been partly accepted !- (in so far as Italy's "right" to special advantages in Abyssinia has been re-

cognised): are looked-;upon' as; precis* dents jvthat will"?-help Germany wheni she'makes a claim for colonies beyond the';seaiand for expansion in; Eastern. Europe,'.when the racial "inferiority*' of the Slavs will, certainly receive ap« propfjate emphasisl,.. "';- ■■■■;;■ | "'Official Germany Jqoks uponi. the League'as ah. instrument for perpetuating the supremacy-'of the "Powers that wort ttie Great :War. Any- blowto the 'League or to the^ "collective system" is., welcomed _in Berlin, as is the strain that is being-put ori FrancaItalian relations.' ' '■; The German official attitude towards Mussolini has changed in; his favour. Mussolini has made himself the;,champion of principles that-are those of Nazi. Germany. He has defied the League, and has, above all, defied Great Britain, the Power which is regarded as the chief obstacle to Germ£a imperialist expansion. -: X ;' But although; official-GernianyMs proItalian and has acquired a new respect for Mussolini .that is, not to say' that it wishes to see an Italian victory in Abyssinia. Germany'would regret the triumph of a coloured over a white race,: and she would, ever more, regret the loss of (prestige .which, the Fascist regime would, suffer.', But she.is' convinced of her own ability to avenge both these, racial i and -ideological humiliations Jater v on,' her. . principal consideration at the i moment being that the collapse;';oi-,weakening ol Italian" military power-, would:remove the "chief obstacle to -"the union of Germany and Austria.

'. As so manyi British/clergyman nowi • have to live on their incoines, with* '■ out private,means, the. Church ;pf England authorities have some '200>;yicarages and rectories for sale. They are - too large and expensive for the local * parsons to live in. A