DENMARK'S POLICY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 21, 25 July 1939, Page 16

DENMARK'S POLICY

KEEPING OUT OF ANY WAR

In a statement to "The Times" on the principles gbyerning Danish neutrality, Dr. Munch, the Foreign Minister, said it was difficult for, Danes to conceive that a war between two great groups of Powers in Europe was inevitable. They took it for granted that the leaders of the Great Powers all desired to preserve- peace, and they did not abandon the hope that ■ a peaceful solution of the. questions in dispute, might be attained. If. nevertheless, a great war-should break out, the endeavours of the Danish Government would be directed towards keeping Denmark out of it. This was the policy which was pursued by the other Northern countries and a number of smaller States. This policy of neutrality (said Dr. Munch) is not influenced by the changing aspects of world policy, but will be maintained in all circumstances. Germany recently proposed that she and Denmark should by treaty confirm their will "in all circumstances to maintain peace" between each other. Denmark accepted this offer with satisfaction. In the treaty which has been the ..result we see a valuable safeguard of the policy of neutrality which we pursue. MEMBERSHIP OF LEAGUE. Denmark has been a member of the League of Nations since its foundation. We signified our doubt about the value of sanctions as a means of securing its authority. We recommended again and again equality in limitation of armaments, which might invest the League with the moral authority that must be its great weapon if its fundamental ideas are ever to be carried to victory. We noticed with satisfaction the movement towards universality in the first decade of. its history, with profound regret the schism by which it has been replaced in the last decade. But even in these circumstances we, and others of a like mind, desire to remain members. So long as the States I have in mind are members the League will never be a. one-sided political body. It may still act as a place of mediation between the member States and perform useful international work. The Northern States and a group of other smaller countries believe that, in keeping outside a great war, they would be serving not only their own interests, but a general interest. A work of reconstruction, would have to be taken up after a war, and an international community of justice would have to be created to enable the nations to collaborate. It would be of the greatest value that there were still some nations which had not been shaken by the passions of war, and. which were therefore particularly suited to rebuild the bridges between nation and nation. i