THE EUROPEAN CRISIS.
So far as Great Britain is concerned the disarmament issue will be carried on with a hope of Germany taking a more reasonable stand. Diplomatic exchanges have been made with Washington, Paris and Rome, aind Germany cannot ignore the feeling of the other great Powers without involving a serious position for her own economic life. Hitler protests that his country has no warlike intentions, but these protestations do not coincide with some former statements by himself and his followers. He asks why a nation of 65 million people “should be continually and repeatedly humiliated and dishonoured.” If Germany feels herself dishonoured it it is through the Hitlerites. Hitler states that the people of Germany are ma'nly enough to realise that they lost the war and must bear the consequences. Leaving out the rights and wrongs of the war, most fair-minded people will concede that the Germans showed bravery and resourcefulness during the war; no one ca’n accuse them of cowardice. The treatment of the political opponents of the Nazis the last six months, however, was quite unnecessary brutality and can never be condoned. The whole of the German nation cannot be blamed for these atrocities, even though they are a blight on Germany. Germany was given a guarantee of safety if she conformed to the agreement formulated at the Disarmament Conference, but this did not satisfy the Nazis. They want an army equal to that of France, but for what reason if she has the word of the four most powerful countries in the world that such an army would never be wanted so far as they are concerned? If Germany does not want an army for aggressive or defensive purposes, there is only one other reason for her demand —the national pride of the people. Germany has been a military nation for years, and half a century ago started to build up what she hoped would be an invincible navy. All her ambitions in this direction failed as Hitler has himself practically acknowledged. The German people are fond of uniforms, brass bands and flag waving, and with the rise of Hitlerism this feeling has been accentuated. They consider themselves to be humiliated and dishonoured by being dictated to by other Powers over their war equipment. Hitler talks about German honour, peace and love. So far he has not exhibited any of these commendable traits since he assumed the dictatorship of Germany, and it is a matter of small wonder that the other Powers cannot take his word as ringing true. Provided there is some measure of co-operation with the
other Powers, coercive methods may be used to force Germany to abide by the treaties she has signed. Britain and France will work together; the attitude of Italy is uncertain; and the United States has already announced that only her moral support will be given to any movement to make Germany conform to the wishes of other countries.
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Bibliographic details
King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVII, Issue 4460, 21 October 1933, Page 4
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491THE EUROPEAN CRISIS. King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVII, Issue 4460, 21 October 1933, Page 4
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