COURAGEOUS OPTIMISM.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 161, 9 June 1939, Page 6

COURAGEOUS OPTIMISM.

FEELING IN BRITAIN . HITLER’S LOWERED PRESTIGE. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, June 8. The general feeling was gaining ground in England, which he believed to be absolutely true, that there was not going to he a war, said Air F. G. Williamson, of Wellington, who returned this week from a visit to England and the Continent. Once that feeling gained momentum there would l>e a big revival on the stock market. ns there was a large amount of money awaiting investment. There was courageous optimism about for the future of the country. Since September Herr Hitler had lost his influence in the political world and the lead had now been taken by the democraceis. He had suffered his first reverse in his inability to take Danzig. He only withheld action then because he kn°w that if he took Danzig there would he a war. as England was prenared fo no immediately to the help of Poland. That time it was Hitler who drew hack and not the democracies. though y|r \V>'lliamson thought it ivas likelv Harr Hitler would take Hungary, in which case it was doubtful if it was worth while for Britain to interfere. That should not he taken as a sign of weakness on the part of ilia democracies.

The air defences of Great, Britain had improved tremendously since September and there wo’-e countless aerodromes all round London. Tt appeared to everybody that. Br'tain had the finest, and fastest aeroplanes in the world. Afanv of the shadow factories were believed to he ahead of their estimated rate of production. Recruiting for the Air Force was proceeding at n tremendous pace and there was no shortage of capable men. Tn Germany he was told there was a great shortage of pilots.