Europe Weary, is Opinion of Visiting Doctor

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 292, 10 December 1936, Page 10

Europe Weary, is Opinion of Visiting Doctor

Passing through Auckland en route lo the United States, Dr. Evelyn Ruth-

ven arrived by the Aorangi in the

course of a round trip tour. Dr. Ruthven, who is a graduate of the Universitty of California, and of English and

Continental universities, specialises in economics, history and languages. She had recently completed an extensive world tour and had learned much about, present conditions in Europe. Dr. Ruthven told the Herald, in her opinion there was no immediate danger of war in Europe. Economics, rather than tho personal desires of dictators, held the greater sway. She did not consider that the Spanish situation was a prelude to a world war. To her, Europe, with the exception of Russia and Germany, had seemed weary. There was no desiro among the young people to fight, save in defence, aud the precarious financial conditions of most European countries seemed to strengthen that reluctance. In all countries there were various movements gradually gathering power, but Dr. Ruthven thought them merely symptomatic of a general unrest. When in China and Japan, Dr. Ruthven said she gained the impression that there was no real prospect of war, cither between China and Japan or between Japan and the Pacific powers. She thought, however, that Japan would probably effect a complete penetration of North China.

“The most thoroughly civilised country in the world to-day is Sweden,” said Dr. Ruthven, who described . the Scan'danavian nation as completely satisfied with its balanced Budget, its high standard of living and its comparative isolation. A tremendous change could be noticed in Russia, particularly as far as women were concerned. They dressed individually and charmingly, but were somehow lacking in feminine appeal.