Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6th., 1938. PEACE PRESERVATION.

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 September 1938, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6th., 1938. PEACE PRESERVATION.

EVERYTHING in turn and nothing long, seems to sum up I lie various reports from the Czech-Sudeten “front.” One day, (according to the cablegrams) the I barometer is set fair, and the j next, overcast to stormy. Imparjtial review suggests that the de- | velopments-, so far. promise a | peaceful settlement. Germany has a million or so under arms, but her possible foes have, with less ostentation, even larger numbers ! of well-trained troops, early ava i I ab 1 e. Wha to ver Germany’s early design may have been re[garding Czechoslovakia, her plans have probably been modified, since she lias been informed that Britain will not remain passive should the peace of Europe be wantonly disturbed. Britain has no desire to intervene. She agrees that the Czechs should make concessions Io the Sudetcns, and is encouraging the utmost generosity in this direction, but Czechslovakian territorial integ-' rity must be respected. '

Britain - is doing her utmost to secure a peaceful solution of all European problems, if for no other reason that she realises that another great war would be ruinous to all the participants. “In Great Britain and Ireland alone the numbers of killed and wounded (during the Great. War) amounted to nearly two and ahalf millions. In the British Empire the figure was three and ahalf millions: and, if you take the total figures of all the countries engaged, friends, and enemies alike, twenty-one millions were killed and wounded,” said Mr. Neville Chamberlain in a recent speech, replying to those criticising bis patience and forbearance to those attempting “to twist the lion’s tail.” It is certain that there will be no early war in Europe, involving Britain, if Mr. Chamberlain has his way. He realises, however, that there are limits to the acceptance of injustice and suppression of personal freedom, hence his stand regarding the Czech dispute. Britain’s increasing strength, due to her re-armament programme, must be a factor causing Germany to hesitate before defying the democratic countries. Moreover, she must be, impressed by developments in the Balkans and elsewhere. Roumania has entered into a trading pact with Britain, that would not have been possible had Roumania decided to throw in her lot with Britain’s possible foes. The King and Queen of Bulgaria have arranged an early visit to Britain, a. journey that would not have been undertaken at this juncture, if Bulgarian policy was anti-British. Greece and Turkey have placed many contracts with British firms, and so far as South Eastern Europe is concerned, British, prestige has never been'higher. Evidently the Balkans have little doubts as to the likely winners in any next great war. It must be expected that an occasion like the Nuremberg Conference will be made an opportunity to display to the world the strength of the new Germany and to enlarge upon the glories of the Nazi era. Hitler will be rapturously acclaimed and some “big words” will be uttered by Nazi leaders. Part of the proceedings may be designed to impress the Czechs, and others, but should not be interpreted as heralding early war. It is possible, of course, that the display of mass hysteria, may cause the Nazi leaders to rush in where they would be wiser not to tread, but, on the whole, the prospects of peace-preservation are bright. Meanwhile, reports from Prague, Berlin, and Nuremberg should be accepted, with reserve, unless from official sources.