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Hokitika Guardian, 29 April 1939, Page 4

The Marquess of Lothian, discussing the (American attitude to the European crisis, said we British have to play our own hand without waiting for the United States. The more independent and vigorous and powerful we are •in resisting blackmail, or squeeze, or threats, the more likely is the United States to rally in support.' But she will never allow us to transfer to her shoulders burdens which she thinks, for reasons of geography or otherwise, are ours. But the United States is not indifferent in the long rim to appeasement, provided it is not j throwing sops at Cerberus. Herr Hit- ! ler has recently .displayed his general I ebse for a redistribution of the world's I resources. He followed his usual plan. He represented Germany as a poor nation of 85,000,C0D people who only ask for the right to live, by being given a fair share of colonial territory or assured access to markets to enable her .to exchange'her products for the resources she cannot produce in her own country. There is substance underlying this case. There will never be settled peace until all nations can obtain an adequate standard of living for their own people. But since Munich if is the question of method which has. become predominant. Everyone, both . here and in the United States, new recognises that the demand for the incorporation of the Sudetenland in the Third Reich was; only a stalking horse for . a larger objective, the overthrow of the French alliance system, and the domination of all Central Europe. So ivith this new demand for colonies and markets. Most people in. tile United States, as here, realise ■that, while" there is some substance in it. it is, in essence, a stalking horse whereby to move nearer to that world power by obtaining naval and air bases, territories and barter arrangements which will enable the totalitarian Powers, at a later stage, to impose their own redistribution of the world. From the point of view of American opinion the vital thing is to make it clear, Lord Lothian concludes, that we have no intention whatever of being squeezed or bluffed or parties to another settlement at the expanse of third parties. That is essential.