MENACE TO PEACE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 308, 27 November 1936, Page 7

MENACE TO PEACE

BRITISH VIEW ON PACT. DISTURBING ELEMENT. CONCERN FOR FUTURE. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) Received November 27, 11.30 a.m. RUGBY, Nov. 26. The signature and publication of the terms of the German-Japanese pact have created a distinctly unfavourable impression in London. It is regarded as the most disturbing element in the already disturbed international situation.

Britain has been opposed to the formation of blocs in international affairs, the division of tile world into democracies and dictatorships, or into antagonist camps, the followers of which owed allegiance to rival creeds. The new agreement, it is felt, cuts right across tms policy. The views or the British Government were so well known that surprise is expressed in Gondon that nerr von juiDbentrop should have taken responsibility for signing the pact. The attitude of the British public towards tho German-Japanese agreement is clearly revealed in the newspaper comments.

The Times anticipates that Japanese penetration southward in China is likely to be considerably accelerated by the pact, which greatly lessens her apprehensions m regard to the Manchurian frontiers, isearer home there is reason to fear that Germany’s persistent and inexcusable campaign against the alleged Bolshevising of Czechoslovakia may bear unpalatable truit.

The Morning Post says the pact represents the diplomatic first fruits of the “holy war" against Communism proclaimed by Herr Hitler at Nuremberg. It is equally clear that this holy war has been declared with no other object than to further the national aspirations of Germany. PEACE HINDERED. The Daily Telegraph says the hope of a united front against Bolshevism will not be realised as long as peaceseeking nations hold that the form of Government in any country is the affair of its own people, if the new pact involves no obligations other than those publicly undertaken its main mischief is that of constituting a fresh obstacle to an international agreement ror peace. The Daily Herald notes the aggressive character of the new agreement which, it says, stands in menacing contrast to the Franco-Soviet Pact and the Eastern Pact which France and Russia have olfered to enter. If Germany seriously feared Russian aggression her proper course would have been to join the Eastern Pact. She should join the League and help make it a great forch for keeping peace. The Daily Mail says the Salvation of Britain will be to keep clear of difficulties which do not concern her.