QUIET CONFIDENCE

Evening Star, Issue 23350, 21 August 1939, Page 9

QUIET CONFIDENCE

BRITAIN AND EUROPEAN TENSION FAITH IN RECOVERED STRENGTH NAZI “ WAR OF NERVES " LOSING EFFECTIVENESS (British Official Wireless.) Press Association— By Telegraph-Copyright RUGBY, August 19. So far as the general British public is concerned the outlook on the international situation is reflected in a mood of quiet conndance based on the consciousness of having recovered the advantage in strength. At the same time what clearly emerges as a serious pre-occupation among unofficial observers is the feeling that those who to-day in Europe use “ a war of nerves ” as an instrument of policy are in constant danger of overstepping the limits of their . technique and finding themselves involved in something more grim and more decisive.

SURVEY OF POSITION INTENSE DIPLOMATIC ACTIVITY (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, August 19. An increase in the political tempo appears in reports from European capitals reproduced in to-day’s newspapers. The outstanding item in the tale of diplomatic activity, which covers all the main centres, including the Vatican, was the Hungarian Foreign Minister’s conversations in Rome yesterday, following his recent talks while at Salzburg with Herr von Ribbentrop, The announcement of a new military arrangement ' between Germany and Slovakia takes a leading place among the reports, and rumours of military preparations by the Reich, Polish and German minorities on their respective sides of the frontier contribute to the series of incidents ” of recent days, which extend from Danzig to the Hungar-ian-Rumanian frontier. GERMAN MISREPRESENTATION. Prominence is given in the Press to violent attacks on Poland appearing in German newspapers as a part of the campaign (including stories of atrocities against the German Minority, and assertions of Impotence on the part ■of the Polish is said to bear a ;close n , esemblaace 't»' that e conducted' last summer. against Czecho-Slovakia. Specious representation of Polish provocation is obtained, by citations from unimportant Polish newspapers, speeches of. obscure politicans and manifestos of extremist organisations expressing Chauvinistic views. It is believed that one object of this misrepresentation, in addition to inflaming German opinion at home, is to create anxiety in Britain about the British guarantee by suggesting that Poland is likely to misuse the promise of Britain and France to come to her aid for forward aggressive designs. Tins rather obvious manoeuvre has no chance of success here. Even if the British public is not assured as is Whitehall by the continued evidence of the restraint' of the Polish Government—of which the recent speech by General Smidgly-Rydz was a notable example—and of the responsible Polish opinion, their common sense tells them that in the words of one British newspaper commentator this week, “ a country which knows her own soil will be a battlefield if war comes will not wage war while any alternative is open.” In connection with the visit to London of Dr Kulski, legal adviser to the Polish Foreign Office, and his call at the Foreign Office with the Polish Ambassador, it is understood that satisfaictory progress is being made with

the drafting of a treaty formally embodying British guarantees to Poland. The same incidentally applies to the treaty with Turkey. No urgency attaches to the signature of the treaty between the two Governments, since the essential guarantee was so clearly expressed in the declaration made by the Prime Minister. POLISH COMPOSURE. From the comment of diplomatic correspondents and daily newspapers, and expressions of editorial opinion in weekly journals, it is possible to get a composite view of the European situation taken in well-in-formed but unofficial quarters here. It is a commonplace of the discussion that “ a war of nerves ” is in progress, and the technique of it is often said to be now so well understood that the weapon is thought to have lost most of its effectiveness. Nevertheless, there is frequent praise for the composure of the Poles under the stress of this campaign and of the self-control exercised by 1 the Polish authorities. Among responsible writers there is an obvious effort not to bo drawn into playing the opponent’s game by taking every measure of menace reported from Central Europe at its face value, because, u the weekly ‘Time and Tide’ said, “ It is Hitler’s aim that the guessing game should now become a national pastime.’’ DECEPTIVE GENERALITIES •* PRESTIGE ” AND “ NATIONAL HONOUR " (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, August 19. Among aspects of the apparent deterioration of the European situation reported qver the last few; days which

attract serious attention are indications of a renewal of the tendency to invoke deceptive generalities like “ prestige ” and “ national honour.”. The concern which this tendency arouses may bo attributed to the thought, expressed or unexpressed, that those who use such phrases run the risk, through the neglect of the realities of the situation, of leaving themselves with no escape from the path which leads to destruction—destruction in which, unfortunately, all may be involved to a greater or less extent.

British commentators waste little time upon the German and Italian misrepresentations of the peace front, which have become increasingly extravagant and violent. It is not thought that the suggestion that these Powers are bent upon aggression is likely to impress any but tbo most credulous victims of the system of news suppression and propaganda. Again, the contention that Britain is working to rivet some rigid l so-called Versailles system upon Europe will not carry conviction with anyone who has been allowed to read or hear statements of British policy in the speeches of the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary, which never failed to express willingness to submit all questions to peaceful discussion nor emphasise the constructive aspects of peace. It is pointed out that there is, in fact, nothing right about the British policy except its opposition—which is fixed and immovable—to methods which challenge not only the hope of a better international order but the very existences of independent sovereign States, which is the basis of the historic European order. THE DANZIG ISSUE. In this connection and with Reference to the Danzig issue, the ‘ Spectator ’ is typical in its observation: “ If even now, wityh contact between the Polish High Commissioner at Danzig and the President of the Danzig Senate as a starting point, discussions could be developed between Poland and Germany pointing to an agreement, in no way prejudicial to Poland’s independence, such a course would have the full approval of Whitehall and the Quai d’Orsay. But the gulf between what Germany at present is asking and what Poland could concede is utterly unbridgable.” The same conclusion is put in a different way by ‘ Time and Tide,’ which asserts that Danzig itself is a subsidiary issue, and that what Herr Hitler wants is the elimination of Poland as an independent Power. Pm APPEALS FOR PEACE ADVISES PRUDENCE AND RESERVE VATICAN CITY, August 19._ The Pope, addressing Italian pilgrims, urged them not to abandon hope. Rulers were conscious of their .responsibility, and wanted -.to spare peoples from disaster. He besought statesmen throughout the world to settle differences peacefully, and he advised prudence and reserve while awaiting developments.

SPECIAL ENVOY SENT TO WARSAW LONDON, August 20. (Received August 21, at 1 p.m.) The Vatican City correspondent of the British United Press asserts that the Pope sent a special envoy to Warsaw. THE DANZIG ARMY NEW COLOURS PRESENTED DANZIG, August 19. Herr Foerster was handed Danzig’s new army colours, swastika surmounted by a death’s head. Thousands watched a parade of 1,500 men with machine and anti-tank guns. Herr Foerster said that Danzig was able to protect herself, and no longer needed the note-writing of the League of Nations. FRENCH CREDITS FOR POLAND FOR PURCHASE OF WAR MATERIAL WARSAW, August 19. It has been officially stated that France granted Poland credit of £2,400,000 for the purchase of arms and munitions. ITALIAN COMMENT HITLER EXPECTED TO ISSUE ULTIMATUM ROME, August 20. (Received August 21, at 10 a.m.) Dr Gayda says: “ Poland has only a few more days to reflect. Does she want to bank the door to a reasonable solution or to be overwhelmed in an adventure which threatens her independence ? ' Her real friends should counsel her to turn from England and France and try at the eleventh hour directly to make contact with Germany. It is evident that the present tension cannot last longer than a few days.” Other newspapers predict that Herr Hitler, either at Tannenberg or Nuremberg, will issue an ultimatum to Poland to come to terms or fight. " THE HOUR APPROACHES " HERR FOERSTER’S DECLARATION DANZIG, August 20. (Received August 21, at 10 a.m.) “ The hour now approaches,” Herr Foerster told a gathering of police. “ When the hour comes we shall win. The Fuhrer will solve Danzig and the Corridor similarly to Sudetenland.”

Such of the cable news in this issue as is so headed has appeared in ‘ The Times ’ and is sent to this paper by special 'permission. It should be understood that the opinions are not those of ‘ The Times ’ unless expressly stated to be so. By special arrangement, Reuter’s World Service, in addition to other special sources of information, is used in the ompilation of the overseas intelligence published in this issue, and all rights therein in Australia and New Zealand are rewrved,