WORLD OUTLOOK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23381, 24 June 1939, Page 15

WORLD OUTLOOK

DELICATE SITUATION SOVIET HOLDS THE KEY IMPRESSIONS IN BRITAIN NOT AS BAD AS SEPTEMBER By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright Independent Cublo Service (Received June 23, 7.5 p.in.) LONDON, Juno 23 The general view of political, financial and business circles of the present international situation was summed up by the financial, advisei to a big, city finance house, who said: "The situation is most delicate, but it is not directly as dangerous as it was last September. It is generally believed that Russia has the key to the immediate situation.

Lobby opinion in the House of Commons on the Anglo-Russian pact is that it will eventually be signed, Britain meeting the Russian demands.

]f Russia still temporises, then it is believed that negotiations along the present lines will be dropped and an attempt made to negotiate a wide nonaggression pact without specific commitments. There is a considerable amount or growing resentment, particularly in the industrial North of England, over Mr. Ghaniberlain's handling of foreign affairs. This is not yet sufficiently organised to make itself felt, but it has received an impetus since the lientsin development, which has aroused a great deal of indignation and considerable bewilderment.

This condition of affairs, however, is not causing a swing toward either the Labour or Liberal oppositions, both of which are regarded as weak and incompetent. Italian sources concur in the view that the situation is not immediately as dangerous as September. Generally, the opinion is that the crisis at Tientsin will be solved, but there is a considerable fear that the solution will result in some loss of British prestige in the Kast. Some observers incline to the view that the Chinese are definitely cracking and will be forced to come to terms, as Japan's expected economic crisis is not materialising.

HOPES DISCOURAGED GERMANY'S ATTITUDE BRITAIN SEEKS PEACE EQUALLY PREPARED TO FIGHT (Received Juno 23, 7 p.m.) British Wireless LONDON, June 22 In the course of a speech, Mr. H. jßamsbotham, Conservative member of Parliament for Lancaster, said that while Britain asked for nothing better of Germany than friendship and goodneighbour relations, her experience of the past few years, and particularly last spring, had discouraged all those who hoped that genuine co-operation with Germany could be achieved. Could Britain, therefore, be blamed, ho asked, if, in concert with those nations who shared her apprehensions,

si)o took sucli slops as could safeguard herself and lior friends from the'fate which 11a<I already befallen others? Germany had scarcely a. real-friend in tho world, for friendship based on fear was merely concealed enmity. Confidence in international order and decency had keen terribly shaken and must ho re-established —and soon—if a catastrophe were to bo avoided. It should be made known that although ..Britain was prepared to go to great lengths to obtain a peaceful solution of international problems, she was equally prepared, if necessary, to meet force with force, and " a fight with us would be a fight to a finish."