Overseas

Southland Times, Issue 22969, 15 August 1936, Page 21 (Supplement)

Overseas

Fresh Arab Riots. Fresh outbreaks of violence are reported from Palestine. Arab extremists have attacked British regiments and have inflicted a number of casualties by sniping and by using explosives on roads. A very important oil pipe-line was twice damaged during the week, in spite of extra precautions being taken by the guards, but repairs were effected before there was a serious escape of oil. The Olympic Games. Save for a few unpleasant incidents among footballers, the Olympic Games have been continued in harmony and many more records have been beaten, A Japanese peasant sprang a surprise by winning the marathon in which Harper, of Britain, ran a great race to come in second. There was also a big surprise in the 109 metres swimming race in which a Hungarian beat the Japanese who were firm favourites. In other swimming events the Japanese did very well. The United States are leading in aggregate points with Germany a close second.

New German Ambassador. It is announced from Berlin that Major von Ribbentrop, who has acted as Herr Hitler’s special diplomatic emissary on a number of occasions, has been appointed German Ambassador in London to succeed the late Herr Leopold von Hoesch, whose death occurred late in March. Press messages from Berlin state that the appointment is regarded there as indicating the importance which Herr Hitler attaches to the maintenance of good relations with Britain, the new Ambassador being one of his closest advisers on foreign and political questions. Major von Ribbentrop, who is already wellknown in London, is 43 years of age. He was a cavalry officer in the War, and spent four post-war years in the United States and Canada. Although he represents what the normal Nazi hates as pre-war aristocracy, he is an ardent Nazi. His great service to the Nazi cause was rendered in January, 1933, when he brought together two key-men who had been enemies—Lieut.-Col. Franz von Papen and Adolf Hitler—paving the way for the union of their forces which resulted in Hitler’s Chancellorship.

Less Wheat Harvested. An American estimate of the world’s wheat supply for the 1936-37 season discloses that less wheat will be harvested this year than in the past ten years. It is not anticipated that there will be such a shortage that the food supply of the world will be affected, but it is expected that the relatively low yield will mean an increase in the price of wheat and’ therefore of bread. The drought in the United States and Canada is the chief reason for the shortage.

Spanish Civil War. Tales of horror continue to come from Spain where the deadly struggle for supremacy between the Government forces and the Fascist rebels shows no abatement. It is reported that through a blunder a large body of Loyalist troops was bombarded by its own artillery, there being heavy loss of life. Other grave errors of judgment and atrocities by both sides swell the gruesome story. The danger of a European disturbance owing to the intervention of another country has not been reduced during the week. Germany, resentful of the death of German

citizens in Spain, is making demands which may provoke serious trouble. The issue in Spain is so clearly one between Communists and Fascists that the nations of Europe must be deeply interested in the outcome. Every month Europe is growing more clearly divided into two groups —the Fascist countries and the democratic countries which lean towards Communism. The League of Nations and the statesmen of the principal Powers will have to exercise much tact and diplomacy if war between these groups is to be avoided.