WATCHDOGS OF WAR

Evening Star, Issue 23351, 22 August 1939, Page 10

WATCHDOGS OF WAR

NOW BARKING IN EUROPE NO NATION WILL BE CAUGHT NAPPING IMPRESSIONS GLEANED BY MR S. T. HUDSON In a world of rumour and military might, where smartly-uniformed soldiers clicked polished heels aud dictatorial threats caused troop movements across the borders, Mr S. T. Hudson spent an illuminating business trip between April aud July of this year. That the verbal struggles among the leaders of the “ have ” and “ have not ” nations could be supported by force if necessary, and the presence of an almost inevitable acceptance of the , prospect of approaching war were conclusions drawn after visits to some of Europe’s capitals. “ frequently our . taxi driver pulled to the side of the road to allow the passage of squads of soldiers, artillery, and tanks.” That glimpse of preparation for war was in France’s Nice, where matters military were dominant following an’ alarmist statement by Mussolini, said Mr Hudson. “‘Troops numbering 81),000 bad passed through the city the night before, while during the day soldiers were marching and guns were being manned, with squat tanks lumbering all over the place. The French viewed the situation very seriously, and the military atmosphere disturbed one.” ITALIAN-GERMAN RELATIONS. “ By radio we learnt that Italy had absorbed Albania, and many of the ship’s passengers would not visit Naples when we berthed there next day. But the Italians were very friendly towards British peoples; in fact, they were much more friendly than in 1932,” when Mr Hudson had last visited Naples. “ One can gather such an impression everywhere. One thing that stands out, however, is that the Italians do not think much of the Germans, and it is the same story in the Reich—the German people have not much admiration for the Italians. GERMANY AND FREE SPEECH. “ Germany wants raw materials, and she wants them so badly that she is willing to start a ‘ scrap ’ to get them. That is the problem in a nutshell,” Mr Hudson continued. One factory of which he knew was working only two or three days a week, whereas if it could obtain the necessary raw materials it could work full time, easily, producing an article for home consumption. That was the same story in many quarters. . “If a New Zealand business man wanted to import £I,OOO of machinery, his order would be filled immediately from Germany. But if the German manufacturer, wants £I,OOO of machinery, he might have to wait three years, so scarce is sterling with which to buy raw materials.” Taxi drivers, waiters, factory workers, and other “ men in the street ’’ displayed no animosity towards Great Britain, but the traditional barrier still operated against the French. “ It is all so much bunkum,” was Mr Hudson’s comment on the strangulation of free speech. In restaurants, the streets, or anywhere, anyone' could discuss politics. “I did so myself when with German companions, and nothing happened.” Early in June Count Ciano visited Herr Hitler, and Blackshirts lined both sides of the street outside the hotel at which Mr Hudson was staying. “W© wanted to walk across that street,” said Mr Hudson. “It was just a matter of pushing through with an ‘ excuse me,’ walking across the street, and pushing through the Blackshirts oh the other side. It was done far more easily than if it had been London with its ‘ bobbies ’ on parade.” “OUR BELOVED FUHRER.” Herr Hitler was respected by the masses. The great improvement in social conditions since the Fuhrer’s ascent to power was particularly noticeable to a visitor who had seen the country just after the depression period. Wages had risen, and although taxation had greatly increased, the psychological effect of a workman now being paid 150 pfennigs instead of 60 pfennigs an hour was appreciable. In some lines of employment there were longs lists of vacancies with no candidates available. . On the other hand, however, the regulation of exchange had its repercussions. Margarine was not procurable in some places and a lower quality substitute had to be used, while the artificial fibre clothing robbed the people of smart appearance. “ Hitler is Germany’s leader, and most of the people would follow him. He promised certain things, and he has fulfilled his promises,” remarked Mr Hudson. “ Germany believes in him, CONSCRIPTION AND THE LABOUR PARTY. “ Britain will not be caught napping ” said) Mr Hudson, who was surprised at the extent of the preparations. “ Everybody is doing his or her share in the work of defending her shores, and everybody is viewing the matter seriously. It is difficult to find one person who does not belong to some organisation, either naval, military, medical, or engaged in A.R.P. wor k- _ Conscription came in when Mr Hudson -was in London, but during his stay there he did not hear one person grumble, about the passage of the Bill. “Certain Labour members of Parliament threatened to oppose the measnre, but France’s Socialist leader, M. Blum, flew over, and Labour members had a conference. Result—no opposition to Conscription.” “ Britain is preparing to defend herself. and British people generally will think first of themselves in the event of war. From what I could gather (not officially). New Zealand will be expected to do her own defending if war breaks out.’ AN AMERICAN VIEWPOINT. “ While the Eastern coast of United States is definitely pro-British, the West and Middle-west are not interested in entering a world war,” added Mr Hudson. Talking to some west coast business men on the possibility of American assistance in the Pacific, Mr Hudson was answered by an abrupt question (which terminated that part of the discussion): “ What about those war debts you still owe us ”P