Motives in International Affairs

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 64, 17 March 1936, Page 4

Motives in International Affairs

MAJOR PHARAZYN’S CONTROVERSIAL ADDRESS TO ROTARY CLUB.

The speaker at the Palmerston North Rotary Club’s luncheon yesterday, was Major W. N. Pharazyn, of Wellington, and the title of his address -was ‘* A Hundred Per Cent. Controversial.” Seeing that the major dealt with the international position, tho title was not far from the mark. He was very closely followed, and it appeared that Rotarians were wholly in accord with the opinions being put forward by Major. Pharazyn. The president, Mr W. E. Winks, was in tho chair, and there was a goodly attendance of members.

“Why is it that we havo lived all our lives under tho threat of war,” said Major Pharazyn, after referring to the international position as the most controversial subject of tho present-day. Continuing, he said: “Tho situation to-day is obviously one of war. I was in an O.T.C. camp on Salisbury Plains in 1911, when there was an acute threat of war over tho Agadir question. It did not break out then becauso Franco and Britain spoke firmly to Germany and gave overy indication that they would resort to force if necessary. Germany climbed down and a war was averted. It was only delayed, however, for the world war broko out three years later.” The major went on to say that when a boy at school, he had realised the dhnger of the German menace and that there was only one thing for Britishers to do —prepare for what was undoubtedly coming. In 1920, he wa s in Turkey, where he found that British arms and British ammunition had been used to shoot down British troops on Gallipoli. The 1914-18 war was to havo been a war to end war and the League of Nations came into being. It was a plan that could not work because a number of the virile nations did not have sufficient room and natural resources to expand. Italy came off badly in the scramble after tho war. The only thing they got in the way of colonies was a slice of Asia Minor, but the Turks would not lot them have it. Italy, among the victor powers, and Germany, among -the defeated powers, had not room to expand, which -was essential under the present system of society. After the war the different countries began to build up tariff walls, but it was now realised that these were merely another method of ruining tho markets of the world. .While the countries were refusing to trade with their foreign competitors, Germany was, to a great oxtent, being re-armed with British finance. The city of London was awaro of this, but considered that if a halt were called, it. might procipitate a financial crisis, ' . Italy and Abyssinia. Bpeaking of .Italy’s unprovoked attack on Abyssinia, Major Pharazyn said it was hard to understand why they had done so because tho old order of expansion did not appear to apply, nor did the natural resources of the country appear much of an inducement. The explanation that had been put forward was. that, the Abyssinian Plateau, which was a big territory, was another potential Gibraltar which really dominated the Red Sea—Britain’s route to India—and the Sudan. It had been argued that it was for that reason that Britain and France had taken such an interest—that they did not wish the Abyssinian highlands to be dominated by another power which would be able to control the sea route to India, tho Sudan, and the Cape to Cairo route, and also to: have control over portion of the water supply for the Nile basin. Referring to, the possibility of war between Italy and Britain, tho speaker said that a long drawn-out conflict I could only end one way—in favour of I Britain—and that Italy’s only chance! would bo in a short tussle, for the j Italian fleet, which was modern, includ- : ed great bombing strength and a fast mosquito fleet which, under surprise conditions, could do a considerable amount of damage against tho ships Britain could spare for the Mediterranean. Such a war, however, might

be sufficient to precipitate another world conflict.

Germany’s “Threat to Peace.”

Speaking of the close attention Hitler had been paying to the position which had arisen out of tho Italo-Abyssininn dispito, which had strengthened (Jermany’s foreign political position, Major Pharazyn contended that Hitler had chosen a psychological moment to send his troops into the Rhineland. Under tho Locarno Treaty his action was provocative, but war as a result was a remote possibility. Explaining the meaning of ‘ ‘ collective security,” the major said that though it might be a moans of delaying war, this being proved in 1904 and in 1911, underueuth it was designed to protect the possessions of the countries which had all the territory and resources they required —the countries which had nothing to gain by going to war. Further to tho point, he said it was obvious last August that Italy would laud an expeditionary force in Abyssinia and it was also obvious that the League of Nations could not stop her.

In conclusion, Major Pharazyn said there were certain factors which could stop war and that we should not allow Hitler and Fascism to play the sarno game with us that the Kaiser and* tho Gorman militarists did in 1914. There could be no doubt that the present German Government was tyrannous, but it was also certain that thero was a definite opposition in Germany itself. The positioii was tho same in Japan. “As long as the peoples subscribe to ‘my country, right or wrong,’ there can bo nothing in tho future except one war after another. Our only hope at present are the revolutionary movements working against war-making governments. My mind is made up. Though I did what I considered was my duty during tho Great War, I am definitely against war. All I ask you to do is to have your’s made up.” (Applause). The vote of thanks to the speaker was proposed by Mr J. A. Grant and carried with enthusiasm.