The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY. SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 1927. THE SOVIET MENACE TO WORLD PEACE.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10312, 22 January 1927, Page 6

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY. SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 1927. THE SOVIET MENACE TO WORLD PEACE.

Tho announcement that Soviet Russia lias, to-day. the largest si*ncling army in Europe will not take by surprise those who make a study of world politics. Such a state of affairs cannot, of course, fail to represent a growing menace to world peace and requires to he faced in the light o' its awkward possibilities. In the circumstances, it is well that harmony in much greater measure now prevails in Western Europe. During the period of unrest in Germany consequent on the decision of the Allies not to relax their grip upon her until amicable arrangements could be made, all sorts of wild rumors, it will be recalled, were afloat to the effect that she might come to some understanding with “Red” Russia in respect of a military pact. To-day, however, evidence is lacking that any such proposal would receive the backing of any appreciable section of the German people. It is apparent that the nations of Western Europe realise that Bolshevism must be combatted. Maybe upholders of that creed will pretend that Soviet Russia requires large military forces for defensive purposes. It would, however, be difficult on their part to suggest the name of any nation that is watching for an opportunity to attack Russia. The truth of the matter is, of course, that the real leaders of Russia are anxious that their political creed shall have world-wide acceptance. On their part, methods of peaceful penetration have, so far, signally failed. Is it then intended that war shall be forced on Europe on behalf of their political and industrial cause? The maintenance of such a huge standing army in Russia certainly does not spell peace. What is, in the circumstances, not at all unlikely is that Russia’s menacing attitude will tend more and more towards unity amongst the Western nations. Possibly, no clash may be intended to be precipitated in the immediate future. But neighboring nations may, for all that, be excused if they make arrangements with the larger "Powers for treaties of defence. The ‘-Bolshie” military policy will, in other words, hamper the movement towards a much larger measure of disarmament. It is already known that further disarmament is not viewed very favorably at present even in Britain and America and this goes to show that the outlook is not generally regarded as being very rosy. Seemingly, Russia’s immediate policy is to foment trouble in the East. If she should fail in that quarter she may, later, find some excuse for a direct quarrel j with one of her western neighbors. *