Nelson Evening Mail MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1933 FRANCE AND RUSSIA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 18 September 1933, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1933 FRANCE AND RUSSIA

THE apparent rapprochement of France and Russia, which seems to bo revealed by the visit, first of Al. Herriot and then of the French Air Minister, to the latter country, may mean a complete change of the balance of power on the European Continent. For tlie last ten years France, all of whose interests have depended upon the maintenance of the status quo, has placed her reliance upon Poland and the Little Entente (Rumania, CzechoSlavakia and Jugo-Slavia) on the one hand, and Great Britain upon the other hand, to support her if trouble should be caused by Germany or Russia, Poland and the Little Entente hawe been united in presenting a bold front towards the east, whence they feared that the reputedly vast army of the Soviet might march against them almost at any time, while they regarded Germany as a potential enemy with whom one day they must surely bo brought into conflict. Their reliance upon France’s assistance in case of emergency was complete, and France relied upon Great Britain, if at any time it should be necessaiy to tranquillise Central Europe. There were complications in the problem because of tlie undeclared policies of certain European States, but broadly speaking France, with the support of Poland and the Little Entente, was able to assure Germany’s adherence to tlie Versailles Treaty, while Russia could hardly hope to gain anything by provoking the armed interference of so large a part of Europe.

But if me Government of tho French Republic and the Soviet Government of Russia have come to an understanding, then the position of France and her allied friends of the Little Entente and Poland will so dominate Central Europe that all fear of German revenge vanishes. Furthermore, the position of Great Britain, as the Power upon whom in the last resort evolved the duty of maintaining peace on the European Continent, would appear to be improved, for she would be able to give practically her whole attention to developing and using the vast resources of her Empire, large tracts of which urgently demand her attention, if she is to justify her ownership of them in the eyes of the civilised world. Of course there may be those in England who would desire that Great Britain should continue to play a major part in the political affairs of Europe, but those who are intimately acquainted with her history during the last three centuries will recognise that she has gained little by her enforced interference in the affairs of the Continent, and can expect nothing from such interference in the future. Of course it may be thought by some that France’s domination of Europe might be a cause of danger to Great Britain, but such an apprehension will disquiet none but those who are not very well acquainted with France’s history during the last century, and who do not realise the strength of Great Britain’s position, backed as she is by the Dominions, India, and the rest of the British Empire. It is true that Great Britain has ever opposed any Power which has tried to dominate the Continent of Europe, and nlways with success, but it could hardly be said that a rapprochement between France and Russia would give the former a mandate to dictate to the nations which, with her, have signed the Ver-

sailles and other Treaties which have as their object the maintenance of the status quo in Europe.

There is not much doubt that if the visits of distinguished Frenchmen to Russia mean the close co-operation of the Republic and the Soviet, there will likely follow as a natural sequence a closer and better understanding between Great Britain and Italy. Those two countries have always been on the best of terms, ever since the latter became a kingdom sixty or seventy years ago, and neither of their Governments would view with complacence the establishment by any Power of a hegemony oil the Continent. If it is a fact that France and Russia are contemplating an agreement of a defensive nature, it is because both countries regard Herr Hitler and bis Nazis as a menace; France fearing Germany’s attempt to recover Alsace-Lorraine, and the Russian Government fearing her avowed enmity towards Communism. Between them they should be able to overawe the German Dictator and his dangerous following. If so, the European situation should improve, both politically and industrially, since the nations of the Continent would be encouraged to direct their energies towards the arts and industries of peace.