DANGERS OF FUTURE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19826, 31 December 1938, Page 7

DANGERS OF FUTURE

COMING CRISIS DICTATORS TO COMBINE NEW DEMANDS LONDON, Dec. 11. While reports from most of the European capitals confirm the forecast of the South African Minister for Defence, Mr. O. Pirow, that there will be another crisis in the spring, there is so far no clear indication where it is to be expected.

Informed quarters believe, however, that the Rome-Berlin axis will, as' usual, act in perfect concert, gradually increasing pressure against Britain and France until a climax is reached in February.

Broadly, the totalitarian Powers regard their hour of destiny as near, when they will "overcome the overled, inefficient, and effete democracies."

The main factors in the outlook, as it is seen at present, are as follows: First, General Franco, who has lately been reinforced by Italian and German tanks, planes, and artillery, which have been pouring into Cadiz and Bilbao, is expected to launch a last desperate offensive in the Segre Valley, south of Lerida, and to attempt a decisive winter campaign.

Secondly, Germany will intensify plans for the formation of an independent Ukraine, consisting of Ruthenia and East Galicia, this forming the spearhead for an attack on the Russian Ukraine if Russian Ukrainians do not join in voluntarily.

Thirdly, there will be Italian pressure in the Mediterranean and North Africa.

Fourthly, there are the Japanese threats against Russia concerning Sakhalin.

So far, these factors are a mere shadowy outline, and do not include details." There are, for example, also the German activities in Memel, Danzig, Switzerland, Rumania, and Denmark.

This is the opinion here by way of explanation of the remark of Mr. Anthony Eden in the United States regarding the "gathering of storm."

Mr. Winston Churchill, in a speech to his constituents at Epping, demanded the formation of a real National Government instead of the "present outworn sham."

"I want a Government," he declared, "which will be awake to the national danger before it is too late, which will not continue an unwarranted optimism and fatuous complacency, waiting until the bombs fall before establishing national service."

It is signicant that the speeches of Mr. Eden and Mr. Chuurchill coincided with a meeting of prominent city industrialists, stockbrokers, and lawyers, who expressed alarm at the Government drift and demanded a more resolute leadership. The governor of the Bank of England, Mr. Montagu Norman, expressed disapproval of the views, but the meeting decided to continue with its plans. The Government is simultaneously embarrassed by a revolt among the agricultural interests. The latest manifestation of this was the howling down of the Minister for Agriculture, Mr. W. S. Morrison, who was unable to continue his speech at Lincoln.