AFFAIRS OF THE NATIONS.

Matamata Record, Volume XVI, Issue 1447, 3 August 1933, Page 7

AFFAIRS OF THE NATIONS.

WHAT IS HAPPENING.

Review of World Conditions.

President Roosevelt’s plea for peace among the nations and Herr Hitler’s | reply on behalf of Germany are perhaps the outstanding events of the year 1933. They were made at a time when the thoughts of people were turning to a dreaded new war, and they have served to dispel, for a time at least, a great deal of the uneasiness that was being felt. President Roosevelt has given courage to the statesmen of Europe, who for so long have been grappling with their problem with no assurance that in the last resort, if the need arose, they would have the assistance of the United States. Now they know that the United States no longer stands aloof, but will be at their side in their efforts to avert calamity. Herr Hitler in a speech which has been universally commended for its moderate tone, coming as a complete surprise after the warlike utterances of two of his closest colleagues, declared that Germany had no grievance for which she would go to war, and added specifically and with emphasis that Germany would fulfil her treaty obligations. This does not mean that Germany will be content to endure for ever the bonds imposed upon her at Versailles, but apparently she will bear with them until a better understanding among the Powers can be reached. On the subject of disarmament Herr Hitler said that Germany was prepared to destroy all arms if the other nations did likewise. But it was his statement that Germany would respect the treaties that was the most reassuring portion of his speech, and it was endorsed by the entire Reichstag. If these declarations crystallise the views of Germany’s 70,000,000 people there is, indeed, hope of peace in Europe and inducement for the work of disarmament, and economic reconstruction to continue. Only a few days ago it seem-

ed as if all the labours of the postwar days had gone for nought.

Japan and the Pacific. If it be true that Japan intends to conduct in August naval manoeuvres on an unprecedentedly large scale in the neighbourhood of the Pacific islands which she holds under mandate, and which it is alleged that she is desirous of testing" as possible sites of naval bases, it is not easy to see what her gain will be. When certain operations in these islands were questioned at Geneva several months ago satisfactory assurances were given from Tokio that no infringements of the conditions of the mandates, which forbid military provision of any kind, had been committed. If that be correct, and there is no reason to believe otherwise, how can suitable accommodation be found so far from Japan for 200 warships with a personnel amounting to many thousands? Again, if Japan had any idea of challenging the United States in the, Pacific, she would not choose a time when she has her hands full in Manchuria, and is not yet rid of the Chinese guerilla warfare in Jehol and immediately south of the Great Wall. The consolidation of Japan’s newly acquired interests nt the expense of China will occupy her for several years at least. Nor need she resort to any desperate device in order to secure her hold on the mandates, which give her control of the former German islands in the western Pacific. Her membership of the League of Nations will continue for nearly two years, despite her resignation, and in any case her title to the mandate comes not from the League but from the Allied Supreme Council, which in 1919 allocated the islands to her in accordance with secret treaties made in 1917 regulating the disposal of the German colonies. Membership of the League is not a necessary condition of holding a mandate. The United States was offered the Armenian mandate after she had declined to join the League. _ China's Dwindling Prestige.

China "having lost influence north of the Great Wall, is losing prestige to the east. A report received it, Calcutta through Afghanistan states that a Moslem revolt in Chinese Turkestan has overthrown Chinese rule there, and that plans are being made for setting up an independent State. The cause of the revolt is said to be religious persecution by the Buddhist Government. Chinese Turkestan, or Sinkiang as it appears on the atlas, is neither peopled nor directly governed by the Chinese, but it has been long regarded as being politically a part of China. In recent years there has been a tendency on the part of the Sinkiangese to break away from Chinese tutelage, and this movement doubtless has been encouraged by Soviet Russia, between which country and Chinese Turkestan there is a strong economic affinity, more especially since the construction of the Turk-Sib. railway. Moreover, most of the inhabitants of Chinese Turkestan are Mohammedans, md arc closely akin in race and culture lo large bodies of Mohammedans in Soviet Russia. With the break-down of the Chinese railway system in the North of China, the products of Chinese Turkestan, which formerly were shipped abroad through Tientsin, are now sent to the Turk-Sib. railway, which is nearer and vastly cheaper. To this extent the Russians have been more successful with Chinese Turkestan than they have been in Manchuria,

which they hoped to dominate by means of the Trans-Siberian and the Chinese Eastern railways. Shut off, as she seems to be, from penetration into China through Manchuria, Russia has had some success through Mongolia, though Japan is endeavouring to apply a check there, which was one reason why she occupied Jehol. It is difficult to imagine, however, how Russia is to be prevented from using Chinese Turkestan as a base of propaganda operations now that China has lost authority there and is powerless to win it back by force. The trade routes which cross Chinese Turkestan reacli also into India and Arghanistan, and it, is conceivable that the Russians will use their newly gained advantage to spread their influence southward. Unrest In Spain.

The new Republic of Spain is beset by serious troubles thus early in its career. They began in earnest early in the year when a subversive movement. occurred in various parts of the country, forcing the authorities to declare martial law in the regions in which armed force was being used against the Government. At Casas Viejas, in the province of Cadiz, the police, acting presumably on instruction from the Government, used methods which were regarded as being excessive. The matter was brought up in the Cortes, and the Government was saved from a motion of no confidence by the small majority of 43 votes. It was the Radical Socialist party which saved the Azana Ministry. There are 60 members in the party, and apparently the Ministry must obey its behests or suffer defeat. The chief of police, who was held to blame for the Casas Viejas incident, in which 12 lives were lost, by an ironical circumstance suppressed the monarchist outbreak in Madrid in January for which action he was decorated. Strangely enough, the January disorders were .the work of monarchists and Communists acting separately, but with the same objective—the embarrassment of the Government. In addition to these enemies the Government is being assailed by the Roman Catholics who are .bitterly resentful of the separation of the Church from the State, which was almost the first consequence of the creation of the republic. The workers as a body also have a grievance against the Government because of its inability to improve their . position as wage-earners Significant of the growing unpopularity of the Government was the result of the municipal elections In April, which are held under a franchise which Is nearly as wide as that for the Cortes. The Conservatives, whom the Republicans dread, made substantial gains.