TENSION IN EUROPE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20743, 10 December 1930, Page 13

TENSION IN EUROPE.

POWERS IN OPPOSITION. GERMANY BEING WATCHED. LONDON, Dec. 3. The possibility of two powerful combinations of Powers shaping themselves in opposition is keeping Europe's nerves taut, says the political correspondent of the Sun. Europe, in fact, lives in terror of Germany, whose action at any time might precipitate grave trouble. Despite tho theatrical tactics of Herr Hitler, leader of the Nazis (Fascists) there is a real df.nger that Germany, faced with 4,000,000 unemployed, in which number a mid-winter increaso is inevitable, and with anti-Polish feeling running high, may turn to a dictatorship. The Polish corridor remains Europe's danger spot. Germany feels that France and Poland are squeezing the German people out of their very livelihood, while France is cvor seeking the balance of power. Tho slightest German gesture against Poland might involve France, which is more heavily armed than most of Europe put together.

Any move would affect other Powers, notably Russia, which might seize tho chance to harass and attack Poland. Tho much-discussed Russo-Gcrman-Italian alliance seems definitely possible. Considerable significance attaches to the recent visit by the Soviet's Foreign Commissar, Litvinoff, to Signor Mussolini, at Rome. While there are strong influences against war, there seems a danger of the formation of two great alliances confronting one another, France's allies being Poland, Rumania, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia. France regards apprehensively the rapprochement of Italy and Bulgaria, with its possible threat to Yugoslavia.

Italy and Bulgaria have been brought into closer friendship by the recent marriage of King Boris with the daughter of the King of Italy, Princess Giovanna. What is known as the Polish corridor is the strip of territory through Germany, provided for in the Versailles Peace Treaty, to give Poland an outlet to the Baltic Sea at Danz,ig. Germany has always resented this division of her em tory.