The Northern Advocate Daily MONDAY, MARCH 9, 1936. HITLER’S DEFIANCE

Northern Advocate, 9 March 1936, Page 4

The Northern Advocate Daily

MONDAY, MARCH 9, 1936. HITLER’S DEFIANCE

Registered, for transmission through the post as a Newspaper.

# Those who have watched closely developments in Europe dur-

ng the past two or three years, I but particularly the past two [or tkree months, will not be greatly surprised, though they Will nevertheless be sadly disappointed, to learn that Germany has sent troops into the Rhine demilitarised zone. This action constitutes one of the great crises in history, for upon the manner in which the Powers deal with it depends in very large measure the future course of the nations. Plerr Hitler, in a speech which is a masterpiece of appeal both to his own people and the peoples of Europe, declares that he is, 'above everything 'else, anxious that peace, not war, should be the outcome of the occupation of Rhineland. It is difficult .to follow his reasoning in this regard, for, to people other than Germans, the action of the Chancellor-Leader seems to be the essence of provocative madness. It has been said [that Hitler is a man of two faces land two voices, but it may well be asked whether, at this critical stage of the world’s affairs, he should again be credited with insincerity. That, is the test to which statesmen of all nations are put today. It is a tremendous test,' for, as Mr Ramsay MacDonald once remarked, when referring to a problem which confronted ’the League of Nhtions, the historian will deal with the trends and the causes of Hitler’s action; the politician has to face the actual situation calmly and objectively. This is a difficult matter; it is easy to he wise after the event. By garrisoning (he Rhineland, which was, by solemn undertaking, declared a demilitarised zone —making a

barrier between Prance and Germany—Hitler has not only hurled insult at the Powers, but he has denounced the Locarno Pact, which is universally recognised as a foundation of world peace. Hitler leaves no room for doubt that his action has been taken against the consummation of the Franco-Soviet Pact, for lie said in the Reichstag:

“I bitterly regret denouncing the Locarno Treaty, but I have tried repeatedly during the last three years to build a Franco—German bridge of understanding. It is unfortunately tragic, after many years of honest endeavour to win French friendship, that a military alliance should be concluded of which we know the beginning, but not the end. There may be incalculable consequences unless Providence has more mercy titan we deserve.”

That there is solemn truth in the latter part of Hitler’s statement cannot be denied, for if war in Europe should unhappily 1 break out, it is difficult ! to see the end of it. Well may the capitals of Europe and of the British Empire be deeply moved by the developments of the weekend. How far will the leaders of the nations treat Hitler as sincere in the offers he has made in a memorandum to the Powers? Dare they disbelieve him when he proposes the demilitarisation of the Belgian frontier; the conclusion of a non-aggression pact for twenty-five years between Germany, Prance and Belgium, with Britain and Italy as guarantors; the making of an air pact with the Western Powers so as to prevent the danger of a sudden attack; extension of non-aggression pacts with countries along Germany’s eastern frontier; and Germany’s re-entry of the League of Nations? Who will say that all these things are '.not 1 whla.t the world wants today? Is Hitler sincerely desirous of securing world peace? It would he tragic if the scepticism which has marked some nations, especially France, in this regard, were to provoke another world war. There is, it must' be admitted, a sting in the tail of Hitler’s memorandum Avhen lie makes his offer to return to the League conditional upon the colonial question being settled within a reasonable time. That is a matter about which much may .be said pro and eon, hut the proposal made by Hitler must be given sympathetic consideration in a spirit of good will. That he should have made the re-oeen-pation of the Rhineland a spectacular gesture of German defiance before presenting his proposals to the nations is not understandable; it is,'of course, in

keeping with the line of the dramatic which has characterised Hitler’s regime and demonstrated the Leader-Chancellor’s inability to comprehend the minds of other nationalities. That, however, is a small matter compared with the great issues at stake. The moment has come when a supreme act of statesmanship may open the way to the era of peace for which the whole world is longing.