Manawatu Evening Standard. FRIDAY, MAY 4, 1934. THE MAY DAY FESTIVAL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 131, 4 May 1934, Page 6

Manawatu Evening Standard. FRIDAY, MAY 4, 1934. THE MAY DAY FESTIVAL.

The .May Day festival, chosen by the Second (Paris) Socialist-Hn-ternational Congress in 1889 as the instrument by which it could advance its sinister aims, was an orderly affair this year compared with incidents of the past. Except where Communism controls the Government as in Russia, the holiday is not one of national choice. It is the consequence of direct action on the workers’ part, and this follows the directions given by the Socialist International when it enjoined all affiliated groups to make May 1 the occasion of annual demonstrations, irrespective of the day in the week on which it fell. But in losing much of its former sinister character, May Day has assumed another and not less disturbing one both in Russia and Germany. Moscow is the centre of Communism, from whence emanates propaganda to convert the world. But though Russia is a proletarian State to the Bolsheviks, it js none the less autocratic than in the days of the Czars. May Day is a national holiday, but in the capital itself it provides Bolshevism with the opportunity to assert its might, and hurl defiance, particularly to Japan in the East. Through Red Square the Soviet troops filed past Lenin’s tomb while more than 552 aeroplanes demonstrated the vaunted strength of Russia’s air arm. A year ago Moscow staged a special military display to _ proclaim its might, and a warning to Japan that if her imperialism in Manchuria infringed Russia’s rights then Bolshevism was prepared to take up the challenge. But if the war “around the corner” of which Stalin and his confederates spoke is still only in _ the air, friction has not been dissipated, and another warning to Japan lias been provided in the Moscow celebrations. A world striving eag-erly for peace cannot but regret the feeling that prompts such a celebration. Germany provides the second and most arresting example of a new May Day. Bolshevism has been eliminated as a political force in the Reich, but Hitler chose the occasion deliberately to assert that the “awakened German people” with their “new spirit and new way of life” will if needs be have equality and the right of self-defence whatever other Powers may say. The crude doggerel of the songs sunn by the marching procession tells no other tale than a German people now convinced that they have been wronged by the peace treaties, and they “will rise again to fight for freedom and justice.” On the one hand the Chancellor proclaims with zest the country’s love of peace; on the other determination to right what he says are wrongs by force of arms. The speech was not alone meant fo'r home consumption. It throws down a challenge to the Powers at Geneva; yet in truth there is

no need for the flamboyancy of Hitler. Both Britain and Italy have proved thein statesmanship, and a little of the spirit of give and take between Germany and France would restore sanity to European politics. But while Russia iises May Day to provoke Japan and Germany makes national holiday, with crowds singing songs reflecting the spirit of Prussianism and its leader seeks to inspire revenge for alleged wrongs, a new and possibly more sinister atmosphere is created than in past years when heads were broken and blood was spilt to advance Socialism. The implications in Hitler’s May Day speech are too serious to pass unnoticed.