Nelson Evening Mail WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 1929 EUROPE’S DICTATORSHIPS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 9 January 1929, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 1929 EUROPE’S DICTATORSHIPS

SO much i,s heard of the Dictatorships in Europe that the impression created is that constitutionalism is imperilled throughout the troubled Continent, whereas, as a matter of fact, there are in reality but five or six Stales which can be classed as absolutely under Dictatorships. The region where constitutionalism is strongest is in the north of the Continent. Great Britain, together with Ulster and the Irish Free State, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Holland, and Belgium form a solid block of Kingdoms which are governed constitutionally, and it will be admitted that they are the best governed and most tranquil States in Europe. Other Kingdoms are Rumania, Bulgaria, Albania, Jugoslavia, Spain, and Italy, tho-ugh in regard to the three last-named certain reservations must be made, since they have ceased to be governed constitutionally. Indeed, the monarchs of Spain and Italy are in the hands of Dictators, and the King of Jugoslavia has made himself a Despot. There are 11 Republics which are ruled constitutionally, some of them ruled most ably by Ministries which are presided over by men who are among the wisest statesmen in Europe. These are France, Germany, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Switzerland, Czechoslovakia, Portugal, Greece, Austria, Poland, and Hungary. But while the two last are Republics in name, their position is peculiar. Poland is practically under the dictation of Marshal Pilsudski, who threatens to introduce Fascism, and may do so if his health, which has been bad, permits him; and Hungary, though proclaimed a Republic in 1918, was proclaimed a kingdom without a king in 1920, but really is under the Dictatorship of .'Admiral Horthy, who is supported by Count Bethlen, who is the executive head of the Government.

So that, with the foregoing information before us, by eliminating the outand out Kingdoms and Republics which are governed constitutionally, we arrive at the number of actual and positive Dictatorships, which are those of Italy, Spain, Jugoslavia, Hungary and Russia, which last is ruled by the Dictatorship of the Communist Union, which lias a membership of little more than one per cent, of the nation. But even these Dictatorships require classification. That of Spain is benevolent. That of Jugoslavia is in reality a patriotic Despotism, created for the purpose of preserving the unity of the country. That of Italy certainly seems to suit the temperament of the nation, which sees, in the Dictator and the'effective political machine which lie has created, the best guarantee of future greatness and prosperity. In Hungary tho position is strange. Admiral Horthy has governed the country autocratically for ten years or so, but recently lie instructed Count Bethlen, who is his executive Minister, to announce his intention to take a referendum for the purpose of selecting a King. Technically the Admiral is the Regent of a monarchless Kingdom, though actually lie exercises the functions of a Despot. It now seems that ho is preparing by means of a plebiscite to have this anomaly rectified. The llabsburgs are barred by the League of Nations from resuming the Throne of Hungary. The inference must be that the Dictator is likely to become the occupant, provided all goes well with the referendum. History recalls how Louis Napoleon, elected President of the French Republic, had himself made Emperor in a similar manner, and what was done in France nearly eighty years ago may be done in Hungary to-morrow. So. far as the outside world is concerned, the forms of Government which tho States of Europe may select are of no great matter, so long as they sink their differences, and agree to live amicably together. If aIL of them were governed constitutionally, as Kingdoms or Republics, there would be a likelihood of their preserving the peace, under the League of Nations, and the new Peace Pact which outlaws war. But with so many militant Dictatorships in existence, and with the tendency of Dictators to appeal to the sword rather than to the Hague International Court, for tho settlement of international disputes, the peace of Europe is not as certain as it ought to be. The most disquieting factor is the Soviet Dictatorship, which recently massed 250,000 troops near the borders of Finland, without any provocation whatever, and simply for the purpose of making a political diversion from conditions in Ukraine, where there was much unrest under the Soviet Dictatorship. When sueli methods are used, the maintenance of peace is jeopardised. Such then is a rough sketch of Europe to-dav. It will bo seen that it is a Europe which is full of difficult problems which are peculiar to itself, and with which Britain and the Empire are little concerned. Though the British Isles must he considered geographically as part of Europe, it is clear that they have little in common politically with the Continent. lienee it is not without reason that certain statesmen of the Dominion and even of Britain herself advocate the readjustment of her political outlook, by frankly and definitely turning away from Europe and fixing her attention upon her interests in the Empire.