Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1934. WAR POSSIBILITIES.

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 November 1934, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1934. WAR POSSIBILITIES.

JT is re-assuring to learn from Mr. A. Eden, General Smuts, and others, that there is no likelihood of an early war in Europe, but it will be recalled by some honest doubters that similar predictions were made by leading authorities in 1914. The Empire’s trust were better placed in adequate defence equipment than in predictions, meanwhile continuing every effort to promote concord among In several instances, the lion is refusing to lie down with the lamb, and it is clear that racial fends of long standing will not be easy to remove. A cablegram published yesterday stated that a. Five Power military alliance had been reached between Turkey, Yugo-Slavia, Rumania, Czecho-Slovakia and Greece as against Italy and Hungary. The report was published by the “Daily Sketch,” one of the “popular” newspapers of Britain, with enormous circulation, but little authority. Too many of the cabled announcements about foreign affairs come from journals not acclaimed for their sense of responsibility. It may be that this latest rumoured alliance is mythical, the report being based on the well-known sus-

picions by the five nations mentioned, of Italian-Hungarian policy. Be that as it may, the main danger to European peace is believed by most statesmen to be in this ill-feeling, and until this is allayed, it is premature to claim that war is unlikely.

Mussolini’s break with Hitler, over the Nazi attempt to abolish Austrian independence, has caused the Italian dictator to be less aggressive towards Yugo-Slavia, but he continues to give “warnings” to that State, the newspapers of Avhieh are strongly anti-Italian. King Alexander’s death has called a halt for the time being to definite measures, but sooner or later, an incident will arise frhat will test the respective attitudes. France is working to bring about better feeling between Italy and Yugo-Slavia, but the political situation in France is not, to-day, stable, and her leaders may find more than enough to do to preserve their own positions. How can it be fairly claimed under the circumstances that war danger is insignificant?

Austria has been out of the news of late, but a revival of unrest is possible at any time. Germany has not surrendered hope of a merger with Austria, many of whose inhabitants think such union would be the best solution of national problems. Were Germany to move again in that direction, Italy would retaliate. Yugo-Slavia would take a hand against Italy, and other nations of the Little Entente might be drawn in. This quarrel is not a matter for the Continental countries alone, as Britain would find it difficult to remain neutral. There are other factors in the world

situation causing anxiety, hut each emphasises the need for adequate defence preparations by the British Empire.