MISTAKE MAY PLUNGE EMPIRE INTO EUROPEAN WAR

Southland Times, Issue 23461, 18 March 1938, Page 7

MISTAKE MAY PLUNGE EMPIRE INTO EUROPEAN WAR

FRENCH FEAR OF FASCIST VICTORY IN SPANISH CONFLICT

(United Press Association —Telegraph Copyright) (Received March 17, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 16.

The European situation has become immeasurably worse during the past 24 hours, says the Australian Associated Press. Britain is now confronted with . the most momentous problems since the last war, demanding urgent decisions, any one of which if in the wrong direction might plunge the British Empire in war. The fact that the Cabinet has still not devised a policy to meet the new situation, apart from a reaffirmation of adherence to non-intervention in Spain, reflects the Government’s difficulties. Apart from the Opposition parties, whose policy is complete and immediate intervention with collective action with the League, the feeling in the House of Commons, particularly on the Government benches, is of considerable uncertainty. The situation, which changes from minute to minute, was that today Spain within a few hours replaced Czechoslovakia as the focal point of the crisis, which, nobody in responsible quarters disguises, is as menacing as 1914. The question before the British Government, which is now one concerning the Dominions as vitally as Britain, can be summed up thus:—lf General Franco succeeds in Spain France will be faced with fascist States on her three frontiers, and France, who is appealing for Britain’s co-opera-tion, considers that if this is tolerated it will reduce her to impotence, as she conceives her eastern frontier becoming as vital to Britain as to herself; consequently the French foresee a fascist chaHenge to themselves as a challenge to the British Empire. Behind the constant consultations at Downing Street with the Dominions lies intense anxiety that the march of international events is heading for disaster, and the reason the Dominions are being so intimately consulted is because—as expressed in one quarter—it is a case in which nobody can be out of step, and it is imperative that the fear and apprehension created in Europe should not be allowed to continue, otherwise war is inevitable. It is expected that this position wiH require an early declaration of the Dominions’ policies.