Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, MARCH 22nd., 1935. ALLIES’ ATTITUDES.

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 March 1935, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, MARCH 22nd., 1935. ALLIES’ ATTITUDES.

SEVENTEEN years ago. this week, the last great German attack started, an offensive that had much initial success against the weakened British defence, but which was ultimately checked, leading to the German surrender in i November. This year, the Germans have launched another offensive, against the Versailles Treaty, and history may repeat itself. It is interesting to note the respective attitudes of the one-time Allies to the German conscription action. France, Italy, Russia and their subsidiary friends are outspoken in condemnation, Britain is working to achieve a friendly compromise, Japan is sympathetic with the German decision, and, as usual, U.S.A. wishes to keep out of the argument. Japan and Germany are developing a friendship, inspired by their mutual distrust of Russia. Herr Hitler, when receiving Count Mashakoji, the new Japanese Ambassador in Berlin, recently, referred to the friendship between Germany and Japan. This, said the Fuehrer, had become a. tradition. Yet before the Great War, the relations between the two nations were such that the Kaiser wrote on a Foreign Office despatch “There will be a decisive battle between .Western civilisation and Eastern semi-civilisation . . I know well that one day we shall have to fight to the death with Japan, and I am making my preparations to that end.” A German-Japanese alliance would have tremendous possibilities. General Araki’s statement as to his proposed visit to Berlin to negotiate such a treaty, will, doubtless, receive the attention it deserves from other nations. The more that European nations quarrel, the easier will it be for Japan to have a free hand in the Far East.

The United States, according to President Roosevelt, will maintain a “hands-off” policy, hut this may not be practicable. It is understandable why the U.S.A, wants to hold aloof; doubtless, Britain often wishes that her own geographical position gave her some choice From Washington’s day, the U.S.A, policy has been to steer clear of European disputes, and although the Great War ultimately

ompelled an abandonment of this

isolation, the desire for it prevails. Events, however, are proving too strong for the U.S.A, to evade unwelcome responsibilities, and President Roosevelt will have his part to play should the European crisis become acute. U.S.A, could not remain indifferent to the proposed German-Japanese alliance. Many in the British Empire are inclined to condemn the United States "for not taking her due share in the attempt to‘prevent nations furiously raging together, and for not being enthusiastic about AngloAmerican unity in world-better-ment efforts. In defence of the American attitude, it was recently pointed out that the United States

is a union of forty-eight “sovereign” States, which by law are supreme within their own domains. Two-thirds of these States are hundreds of miles inland, without any concern for. or thought of,

ocean barriers or ocean commerce. Consequently, most of the inhabitants of the United States are entirely unacquainted with anything resembling a national boundary. Certainly fifty millions of them

have never seen an ocean or an ocean liuqr. It is that lack of boundary consciousness, and lack of experience with international affairs, which makes vast numbers of the peoples of the States indifferent to world problems. Criticism will not enlighten them. Patient and wise education alone will help. It is stat-, ed that this work is going on, and President Roosevelt is doing more to help than it would be wise of him to admit.