The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 1932. FIERY TALK

Southland Times, Issue 21822, 27 September 1932, Page 4

The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 1932. FIERY TALK

The introduction of the Danzig question into the discussions about Germany’s claim for arms equality will help to stiffen public opinion against Germany, but will not provide the governments of Europe with any new material. Germany has never made any secret of her objections to the Polish corridor, and the die-hard Prussians have Danzig before them as a lost province. This is a new Alsace for Europe, but the Polish corridor giving Poland independent access to the sea was created by the Treaty of Versailles in conformity with one of the guiding principles of that document, and any attempt to take it from Poland by force of arms would offer a challenge to the nations of the world. Some of the German militarists are using provocative language, but it is obvious that threats are not likely to help her. In fact every militarist speech serves to justify France’s objections to arms equality, and so prejudices the hope of an agreement at the Disarmament Conference. A feeling of insecurity in France will hold up any progress in the reduction of arms, but while German hopes in Eastern Prussia may be mentioned as the real reason for her anxiety to enlarge her armed forces, the situation differs so much from what it was before 1914 that there should not be much concern. Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia are all vitally interested, and they will not tolerate any move by Germany to imperil their new independence. The French policy has striven to strengthen these new States and to keep them closely in touch with France and with each other. Actually Germany could be permitted 'to enlarge her forces, because she has no hope of regaining her lost territory by force of arms. In fact, it is extremely doubtful if her own people could be keptunited if any effort were made to start a war for the resumption of the land lost in Eastern Prussia. Unfortunately while the power of the League and of the BriandKellogg Pact remains in doubt, France will use these scares to bolster her objections to Germany’s claim, and the world may have to wait until these ebullitions of political temper subside before proceeding further with disarmament. So far the situation has been kept well in hand. Fiery statements and innuendoes are coming from unofficial dignitaries, but though the German government is holding off the Disarmament Conference, it is obvious that the absence of the German delegates will not increase their chances of achieving anything. The other Powers can proceed with their discussions, and probably Germany will realize that her stiff-necked absence is not profitable. As a matter of fact, of far greater importance than this question of Germany’s participation in the Disarmament Conference is the Lytton Report on Manchuria, and the League’s handling of the situation created by the setting up of Manchukuo, because out of this difficulty will come an indication of the League’s power to deal with a member who, under a thin veil of legality, has offended against the spirit of the Covenant and the BriandKellogg Pact. Jacan has; an in-

genious legal defence, and undoubtedly Manchuria would be better off separated from China, but there can be no two minds about the real character of the new State and of its challenge to the territorial integrity which the nations through the League Covenant and the Pact have pledged themselves to uphold. If the League discloses authority and power to protect the sanctity of China’s boundaries there will be a greater respect for it in Europe and through that respect will come the security on which disarmament can be raised.