WILL THERE BE WAR?

Evening Star, Issue 22773, 7 October 1937, Page 1

WILL THERE BE WAR?

GOVERNOR OF BOTARY SAYS “YES'-

THE GREAT AMD SMALLER POWERS AVill the world b© precipitated into the holocaust of another war? According to Mr F. Hall Jones (governor of Rotary), in a public address at Oamaru last night, there would be war for many years to come between the great and smaller Powers, such as was happening to-day between Japan and China. A country that possessed _ all the requirements and raw materials would always he the aggressor; for it had been demonstrated that might was an overwhelming factor in one country going to war with another. Unless a better sens© of understanding was instituted among the nations, a country possessing all the requirements of war would always have the tendency to wage its might over a lesser and smaller Power.

In his introductory remarks, Mr Hall Jones said he had been privileged to attend the Nice Convention of world Rotary, where the fellowship and understanding of the nations represented had left an indelible impression on him. But the most colourful and wonderful sight of his tour abroad had been the Coronation procession. At the moment New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa were very much in favour in England, particularly Australia ; and during the Coronation period her troops had attracted large crowds. '

“ The position in Britain is particularly strong at the present time,” said Mr Hall Jones. Britain had seen to her fortifications in a manner that left no doubt as to her intentions. Throughout the world the prestige of Britain was recognised and admired, and at Home to-day it was felt that only by might and strength could she maintain her position. “ Britain’s prestige shines like a beacon, so that if she wishes to maintain her power as a great nation, it is essential that she protects herself.”

Holland was a charming place, and the people impressed by their magnificent physique. This country was not materially affected by the vicissitudes of war, and at the moment Holland and its people were extremely popular as a nation. Belgium, although half the size of New Zealand, harboured 16,000,000 people, who were very industrious. At Ostend he had seen the old Vindictive and other sights that brought back strongly the horrors of war. Massacres, and the slaughter of Belgians by' the.Homans were represented*, by the Jl./humejlts and cenotaph's seen. That Was what the world had been brought up to —human slaughter. The position in Paris was vastly different from a tourist point of view. The country would have reverted rapidly to Bolshevism but for the French, peasantry. Paris itself ’ was quickly losing its tourist trade. The waiters had increased their tips, hut even so they still found it difficult to earn a living. In Switzerland he saw the League of Nations Building; He visited the place on a wet day, and the building seemed to be symbolically under a cloud. It was the opinion of some that the League had been placed on too high a pedestal, and Mussolini’s attitude towards it had invoked the fear in some of the smaller nations that their own defence would not be saved by the League. Even so, they could not break the League. Russia had joined for whatever security she could get by so doing. “ AVe must look on the League as 'our front line of defence,” said Mr Hall Jones. “ Our second line of defence is Britain’s rearmament, and our third line is our Territorial defence.”

Great publicity was given to the fact that at the Nice Convention of Rotary there were 1,000 American, 1,000 British peoples, and representatives from all the other countries. At one table there were no less than 200 Frenchmen, 150 Austrians and Italians, and nothing hut amity and friendship prevailed. Spaniards whom ho had met were three to one in favour of Franco. The people had been turned out by the King of Spain, who had in turn been turned out by the people. Since the war the country had suffered muqh and had experienced a form of democracy. The Government had endeavoured to enforce law and order, but with extreme measures, so that the- populace under Franco had sought aid from Morocco and rebelled. The intervention of Rus-

sia on the side of the Government ha 4 resulted in Italy and Germany taking sides with -Franco. Several Britishers had taken up the cudgels for the Go* vernment, but when captured by; Franco had been treated well and repatriated to England. Now they had nothing but praise for Franco -and hia determination to bring the country to a) saner outlook. In the first stages ofi the revolution the Government had had' the means to wipe out Franco, as itt possessed practically all the navy, - bub like all Bolshevists, it had shot tha officers and left the seamen to carry oni as best they could. Consequently tha navy had been rendered almost useless* The _ Italians, said Mr Hall Jones* were interesting, and there was no doubt that Mussolini had revivifiedand renationalised the country. In., Central Europe the position waa fraught with difficulties and problems* In" Austria they were unable to sea the future. They were torn, with dissension between Italy and Germany* so that the international situation! there at the present time was well nigh hopeless. Hungary had balanced its budget, but it was significant that although the country was. prosperous it depended entirely on its trade with! Germany. Hungary had a grievance* and he thought they were entitled to it. The Treaty of Versailles hadcreated boundaries, thus robbing Hungary of much of its former territory,Obviously the country had been done a great injustice. Czechoslovakia was a very democratic country. Like Russia it had huge •commercial buildings and workers’ flats. The people were capable of managing their territory and their own affairs, but if Austria decided to go with Germany, their territory would be untenable. Russia* with its 160,000,000 people, was a very powerful nation. It had been responsihle for the rearming of the world,Russia had rearmed before Germany. That attitude had undoubtedly inspired the latter country to do likewise, and subsequently Britain. In Germany ho found that thai people worshipped Hitler. He had given them back work—with little remuneration, of course, hut work nevertheless. Some people bad said! quite openly that they would hay© preferred tha,qldsregimo of democracy instituted after! the war, hut they admitted that Hitler was on the right lines. They seemed to be_ definitely grateful to Hitler for having rid tha country of Bolshevism. Where Communists had previously wrought strife and damage, to-day there was peace and quietness. The work that hadi been done for the people had impressed him, and he went on to tell of huge flats that had been built, harbouring nearly 5,000 people. These buildings seemed to be quite satisfactory homes for the working class. He had visitedthe Kaiser’s palace, and was_ told of the table on which the Kaiser had signed the order for mobilisation. This table was of British oak, and had been presented ,to_ Germany’s monarch by the RoyalAacht Squadron at Cowes.

“ Europe has practically taken' to the air,” said Mr Ball Jones, “ and the question is asked everywhere: ‘ls there going to be another war?’ ” He thought quite definitely that for many years to come there would he war be* tween the great and the smaller Powers. There were two schools of thought’ at the moment, but he was of the opinion that there would be another war. Such arming as was going on everywhere must have its bursting point. But a great deal could be done to bring the nations together. That was a vital necessity; for it had been proved that an air force could penetrate virtually anywhere, so that it must be cither peace or suicide. Experts had agreed that aeroplanes were sufficient to give victory; was for the {world to come to a better sense of understanding. Peace and amity were sufficient for most of us, and perhaps fear and destruction would deter the potential aggressor.; War of the future would not be war of armies hut of peoples, and the women and children would suffer as they were suffering, in China to-day. Means of destruction were 1,000 pen cent, greater to-day than during the Great War, and only by a better understanding could another world holocaust he averted. At the conclusion a vote of tbanka to Mr Hall Jones was passed on tha motion of Mr F. Milner.