Nelson Evening Mail MONDAY, MARCH 30, 1936 PEACE ENCIRCLEMENT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 30 March 1936, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail MONDAY, MARCH 30, 1936 PEACE ENCIRCLEMENT

WHILE there is no question as to the eloquence of the British Foreign Minister and the meaning of his recent speech, there will be many people in Britain and the Dominions who will ask whither his brilliant oratory is leading. Among ether things, Mr Eden is reported as saying, “In the case of the undertaking into which Britain is prepared to enter as part of the final settlement, guarantees between the Powers of Western Europe would be reciprocal, and Britain would receive as well as give guarantees and share in security as well as in risk.” In other words, the proposal is to add another Pact to the innumerable Pacts already existing between the principal European Powers, and to substitute agreements for active preparations for preserving peace by force of arms. Such a proposal is certainly praiseworthy, the moro so because it would include Germany in the new agreement, though it seems doubtful whether the German Dictator and his following of Nazis, who have abandoned the League of Nations, will be willing to enter into another international undertaking for the same end, namely the preservation of peace. The recent agreement between France and Russia has in view the co-operation of those countries for the purposes of defence if either of them should be attacked. Whether it be in London, Paris, or Russia, the apprehension is that Germany may break the peace ; arid yet Herr Hitler has clearly stated that his policy is peaceful. But the German Dictator can do nothing which is opposed to the policy and wishes of his Nazi followers, and if they desire their political head to use force as an instrument of foreign

policy, tile possibility is lliat lie may be compelled to act in such a manner, as ( will bring Germany into conflict with the League and the three Great Powers France, Russia, and Britain. None of the Powers mentioned, desires to break (he peace. Russia’s attention is engaged in the Far East, where she is watching with anxiety the development of Japan’s policy of aggression on the mainland of Asia. France desires no territorial acquisitions in Europe or anywhere else, l.ut she is painfully apprehensive lest l Germany should wish to repeat her in-1 vasions of 1870 and 1914. As a matter of fact. Russia has more to fear from German invasion than has France, because Herr Hitler fully realises the value of the level, fertile, sparsely-populated plains cf Russia as a potential region of German colonisation. Thus it is that Germany finds herself without friends among the European Powers, and is likely to incur the displeasure of the League I of Nations, which she left, preparatory ! to the initiation of her present policy which recently drew from the London ‘Times’’ the following remark, “The German Government should realise its obligations to restore by some means or oilier the confidence of Germany’s neighbours, which was so rudely shaken by, the events of 7th March,” when Herr Hitler marched armed forces into the demilitarised zone of the Rhineland. It is not only the duty of Britain, or France, or of any other European Power to try by itself to solve the problem which Germany has created: that duty rests with the League of Nations, whose action appears to be partly hindering Italy’s policy for annexing the whole of Abyssinia, and it is to be expected that the League will vigorously uphold its Covenant and the Versailles Treaty, which Germany has defied. It is hardly to he expected that the League will wish to employ force for the purpose of upholding its principles and undertakings. As in the case of Italy’s delinquency, the League will possibly use as its instrument the economic boycott. It is not to be supposed that the British Foreign Secretary desires that the British Government should usurp the functions of the League, when recently lie made his eloquent speech in the House of Commons. He was merely giving a lead to the Locarno Powers and to tho nations of the League. Commenting upon the situation, Mr Churchill said, “If anyone offends Germany it (Germany) will turn against the offender. If Germany strikes anyone all will defend the victim. What is wanted is not war encirclement of Germany, but peace encirclement.” That sums up the situation correctly.