The Grey River Argus TUESDAY, August 29, 1939. THE STAGE SET.

Grey River Argus, 29 August 1939, Page 6

The Grey River Argus TUESDAY, August 29, 1939. THE STAGE SET.

On the strength of a refusal by the German dictator to act on a, suggestion by the French Pi’inu 1 Minister for direct negotiation with Poland,, the conclusion seems to have been drawn that peace is unlikely to continue. Last night’s news undoubtedly went nearer to an indication of war than any hitherto. Probably as many as ten countries were either on a wartime footing, or closely approaching it. Germany, for instance. had yesterday placed her railways on a military basis, and Prance had everything,, in readiness for action. What brought home the gradual trend of things towards a graver situation was the news that British ships had an Admiralty order to keen meantime from entering the Mediterranean Sea, or, if therein, to leave it; this order being doubtless but a> criterion of other measures which have not been made generally known. Australia’s placing of her finances yesterday on a defence footing coincided with similar action in Britain, whence there has been a record exodus oi, gold to North America. In Europe, of course, the most immediate consideration is that of precautions against air raiding, and the fact that no fewer than fifty thousand nurses have been ordered to be in readiness at Paris is an example of what could be expected if the thread snaps on which peace is said to have been suspended over this week end. That the precautions so generally evident point only to war would yet be a hasty conclusion. No Power likely to be involved is now leaving anything to chance, which means that the limits within which concessions for the sake, of peace are considered feasible have narrowed very much. The British Cabinet had yesterday finalised its reply to Herr Hitler, whose rejection of the overtures of M. Daladier would go to suggest that an adverse result could not be ruled out. It turns out that, while Germany makes the greatest play upon allegations of Polish recalcitrance, the corridor, as well as Danzig, is demanded by the Reich. Herr Hitler implies that, not only will he refuse to negotiate with Poland, but that he will not parley at all over the demands mentioned, but is. ready to go- to war in order to carry them into effect. It must certainly have looked as if this were inevitable when the United States President announced the intention to make one last bid to avert it provided that he would be supported by Russia and by the Republics of .South America, including those where there is no insignificant German interest. As. regards the attitude of Italy, much is left to conjecture, although the fact of British- shipping being warned meantime from the -Mediterranean would seem to indicate a belief that: the Axis remains intact. However,|

the order is that of the British Admiralty, ami is purely preeau- 1 tionary, so that it yet remains to . be seen' if Italy will allow her- : self to be drawn into hostilities, after trying so hard to avert them. While Turkey has declared herself true to her new pact with Britain, Itauniania is report ed a supporter of Poland, where is Hungary, in her very awkward situation, makes the best of it with a policy more or less neutral towards Germany, although Ihe majority of her people must be sympathetic towards Poland. Poland is the vital point. Her people are evidently as firm as a rock, or there would not be Such complaints from Herr Hitler and such propaganda against her in the German press as there have been. It is not reassuring when Holland and Belgium, which are in a neutral position, have felt constrained to order a general mobilisation. .This fact and the dosing of the Rhine and other frontiers go to show that if hostilities are the upshot of the present negotiations, they will be spread over an area little less extensive than that of the Great War which broke out in Europe a quarter of a century ago. In view of this, it is not surprising that no Power is taking risks in the way of preparation, but it may also be said that the very fact of such preparedness is designed to impress on possible opponents the wisdom of restraint in this eleventh hour of the crisis., 1 The Far Eastern position seems to have undergone an alteration, the Japanese Cabinet having resigned on the score that its foreign policy has been foiled through the action of Germany in making a pact with Hie Soviet. The Russians are reported to have inaugurated a drive with substantial forces in the direction of Manchukuo, and the Japanese say they are preparing an encircling movement, It might be as well, however, to take Far Eastern re ports with some reserve for the time being. Jt yet remains to be seen what line is taken by the new Cabinet, the leader of which is expected to be a noted militar ist. In the sevzeal dominions, the degree of preparedness is considerable, and probably even greater than would appear. The action of the Australian Government in taking over a more rigid control of exchange goes to indicate that our own country in that respect is well ahead of events, and already accustomed to the re ; strain! which Australians must now learn to observe. A spec tacular feature of the crisis is tlm behaviour of the price of gold, which in sterling is now worth more than £8 per ounce, yesterday’s rise at Londan being six shillings. Incidentally, Australia has instituted a gold commandeer, and all indications are that the weapon of finance is being wielded more vigorously al this juncture than in any previous international conflict on record. All eyes to-day will turn to Berlin. If the die is cast for war, thence it is that the fiat shall go forth. It is an hour for iutei’cessioin