THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 1937 A GRIM ALTERNATIVE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22819, 28 August 1937, Page 12

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 1937 A GRIM ALTERNATIVE

Those well informed of the general course of world affairs in the past are nowadays led by current events, of which the Japanese outrage on the road from Nanking to Shanghai is the most surprising and significant; to wonder whether these presage another grave crisis whether, indeed, the crisis is not already here. There is reason for the question. While it cannot be said too. often that history never repeats itself—the truth is much obscured by superficial nonsense —an analogy close enough for many practical purposes can be established between the past and the present. Thought instinctively goes back to the shattering of peace in 1914. Were conditions early in that year of upheaval at all lil<£ those now prevailing? They were. In the life of many nations —not all —were vainglorious ambitions, increasing fear, deep unrest; most could honestly declare that they did not want war, but it came, brought by the aggravation of friction, in spite of professions of peace. A pistolshot at Sarajevo was enough to snap the tension and let loose over the earth a flood of hate and slaughter. That pistol-crack did not produce

the war; the growth of international tension should be remembered as the inducing cause. Power politics were rife again after an interval of rather easy-going indifference about them; rivalry was active and contagious ; "a place in the sun" was unashamedly urged by this and that people as its right; even more than alliances, for these were becoming fluid, the cult of nationalism was fostered. Looking back, any painstaking observer can interestingly employ himself in saddling the chief culprits with blame. Do present conditions provide similar occasion for anxious study? The wounding of the British Ambassador to China by Japanese airmen adds fresh compulsion to hasten that study. It seems that the shooting of him was not deliberate, but it was, if accidental in any respect, a lunatic by-product of the deliberate policy that Japan is pursuing in China. Because of that policy, the Japanese are entirely and inescapably responsible for the outrage. Not a word yet offered in self-justification is reasonably acceptable; in this insane campaign Japan's road to shame is Ijeing surely paved with just such excuses. Yet Japan is not singular in the ominous folly of this kind of conduct.

Once again there is dangerous international tension j power politics, jealous rivalry, material ambition and rabid nationalism abound. Their arising can be traced point by point, and resemblances with the pre-war period are too numerous to be neglected. Quite strikingly, some of those most responsible for the resurgence of trust in mere might are modelling their self-chosen tasks on achievements of even older date. Hitler woos German allegiance as another Bismarck; Mussolini leads to a wider empire in the name of the Caesars. But even without such remote inspiration they and others, using contemporary necessity as they view it, launch their peoples on enterprises of single purpose—for themselves alone in the outcome, whatever aid may be won on the way. The vision of collective security has paled; the League, in its chief role, is no moi*e than a mournful, homeless ghost, talking to itself; Gei'many, Italy and Japan evidently deem the time propitious for selfassertive schemes; Soviet Russia has meddled in others' domestic affairs, East and West; and the war in Spain, despite valiant British and French attempts to isolate it, has been used by interlopers as a prized chance to exploit their own selfish ends. Nation spits at nation in wireless diatribes that are making the very ether a medium of vulgar, vicious contamination. And blood is being spilt in shameless proof that human life is held in low esteem. Where sanctity once ruled, scarcely anything is held sacred. No longer is a nation's word its bond, even when solemnly signed and sealed. International diplomacy has sunk to a level not often reached, if not unprecedented. This, of course, is not true everywhere. Exceptions are notable and splendid. Hope of better things has not died. Only a jaundiced outlook could fail to see redeeming facts. They exist. Yet it cannot be denied that they get some of their lustre by contrast with the sombre setting of the times. Early in 1914 peoples were saying that they wanted to be done with war—and in spite of their laudable professions the growth of sinister influences soon entangled them in enmities as terrible as the world had ever seen. To-day strife is prevalent. Spain's torture is increased by alien intei'ference; Italy openly makes merry at the capture of Santander, and spares no tear for the bloodshed. Germany and Russia, both needing peace for the attainment of economic welfare, are multiplying incitements to mutual quarrel. Japan has almost as much reason as China to husband financial resources, yet pursues a costly course in "disciplining" the Chinese, and is doing so with a reckless disregard of international decency and of the only way in which even a Japanese peace can be established in the Orient. The latest act of madness serves indeed "to underline the implications of an intolerable situation." Unless a halt be speedily called to this frenzy, other nations will have to step in; the United States, for instance, will find neutrality impossible if either or both of the combatant Governments continue to ignore the treaty rights of nonAsiatic Powers. Probable action by Russia is another unpromising factor. The old grim alternative, peace or war, is being presented £o a world needing peaqe but perversely turning, away from, it*