THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1938 A TRIUMPH FOR SANITY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23157, 1 October 1938, Page 14

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1938 A TRIUMPH FOR SANITY

With unexpected speed, the conference at Munich has reached agreement and issued an official communique setting out in detail the terms and procedure of a settlement of the Sudeten question. It has gone further, first by stating clearly the relation of the collaborating Powers to a guarantee of the amended Czech frontiers, and second by providing for consequent necessities arising from such transfers of territory as are or may be contemplated. The Czech Government, it is understood, will accept these conclusions; if so, the agreement at Munich will become "an agreement" binding all five parties in all respects. Even so matter-of-fact an epitome of the proceedings is enough to indicate the tremendous achievement. Whatever remains to be done before the touch of finality is given, the outlook for international peace has changed immeasurably for the better. Europe has been on the brink of war. Another misguided step would have taken Western civilisation into another chaos of pain and destruction. Much more was at stake than the satisfying of- Sudeten claims sponsored and presented by Germany. A threat to principles of free government was levelled point-blank: To yield to that threat would have endangered, for more than a generation, the welfare and happiness of millions not directly involved in the original and local dispute. Lest it be thought that on the side of Herr Hitler was the only case for liberty, it must be emphasised that the course he took and was prepared to continue was a denial of liberty to others. The Czechoslovak Government, as well as the Sudeten revolters, stood on rights vital to existence, and its overwhelming in a sanguinary -struggle would have been nothing but the resolving of a conflict of rights by committing a more grievous wrong. Hence the firmness displayed by Britain and France, and the asserting of a higher self-determination than that proclaimed on behalf of a particular minority. In this tragic situation, only the recovery of sanity could afford relief. Happily, this recovery came —at the eleventh hour, but in time to be of signal service. From the news published to-day can be drawn a mental picture of the momentous gathering, at Munich. It will Jive in history as one of the most beneficently decisive. There will be analysis of the interplay of motives contributing to the result. These motives were various, and even at a range so close that the influence of their Beveral purposes is not easily dissected can be seen much that is interesting and instructive. As nationally constituted, the conference . .might easily have split into irreconcilable halves—two military dictators, against two leaders of democratic peoples. Racial aggrandisement and scorn of free citizenship were arrayed against ideals with which they had no community of thought. Yet agreement was reached. The simplest and truest explanation, going beneath the conflict of ideas, is that all four leaders, at the critical moment, valued peace above almost everything else. Their reasons for so esteeming it were not entirely alike. That matters little. All that is of practical concern is their choice of a common path. Together they drew back from the horrible brink. Herr Hitler got much of his way, and as a result Czechoslovakia's sacrifice is heavy, but the agreement is a strange and impressive commentary on the demands for Czechoslovakia's utter humiliation and virtual destruction made only a day or two ago. l The plan itself appears to contain <much that the Czechoslovak Government can welcome. Its working will occasion care, for even progressive surrender of strips of territory must entail considerable readjustment. But time has been gained. Instead of hours are days, for handling the Sudeten areas; and months are available for dealing with the Polish and Hungarian problems. Best of all is the provision for Czechoslovak sharing of deliberations on important phases. In the company of Britain and France on the commission of five, the country lately under threat of extinction should be far from helpless. There remains the desirability of making the conference a beginning of the pacification of Europe. This, after all, is the overriding necessity. It is well to have escaped an impending war. The sense of relief is great beyond description. All the world breathes again. Yet, if the conference should prove to have bestowed only a temporary and opportunist escape from war, its outcome would be of disappointing worth. There are signs of something incalculably better. In itself, the plan for dealing with Czechoslovakia has elements of truly international appeasement; Signor Mussolini's simultaneous withdrawal of Italian troops from Spain is promising; the arrangement for another such conference, should the question of the Polish and Hungarian minorities not be settled within three months by agreement between the respective Governments, argues a wish for further use of this salutary means of consultation; and Mr. Chamberlain can be trusted to extend, after this experience, his efforts to. bring peace and order to Europe. An atmosphere of friendly discussion has been created, with a suddenness betokening the ,existence, beneath' the surface, of a distrust of ultimatums and denunciations. After all, coming events may show that the Munich conference was not created in a day. It is possible to build too much upon it, but the world cannot soon forget the unanimous speeding of Mr. Chamberlain, M. Daladier, Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini to a trystingI place. Why should wondera cease 1