Ominous Events In Eastern Europe

Southland Times, Issue 23676, 26 November 1938, Page 6

Ominous Events In Eastern Europe

The news from Central and Eastern Europe continues to demonstrate the consequences of the Munich Agreement. Although world peace was preserved, at least for the time being, the threat of force that preceded the partition of Czechoslovakia created a precedent in power politics that has not been overlooked by Hungary and Poland. Not satisfied with substantial gains, these two nations attempted to divide the remnant of Ruthenia and to secure a common frontier. But Germany, aiming at unlimited freedom of action for itself, is not in the mood to tolerate territorial ambitions in other countries, especially if they cut across the path of its own expansion to the east. Cable messages printed this morning indicate that there is

danger of military action. Ti’oop concentrations have been reported from Poland and Hungary, and conditions in Ruthenia are described as “chaotic.” It seems unlikely that Poland, even with the aid of Hungary, would risk a war with Germany. It is equally hard to believe that Germany, which is clearly in a position to bargain its way into a strong position, would begin a conflict that must almost certainly lead to intervention by Russia. One report says that Germany has withdrawn her objections to the Polish-Hun-garian plan on condition that Danzig is freed from League control and a concession is granted for a German railway and trunk road to the Rumanian frontier. This sounds more like the Nazi method, and recent events in - Czechoslovakia suggest that it has every chance of succeeding. Whatever h’appens, however, there can be little doubt that Germany has no intention of waiting until Sudetenland has been digested before carrying the process of expansion a stage further. All the evidence encourages the belief that the Nazis, aware of an accelerated armament programme in Britain, are eager to consolidate their gains as quickly as possible. But hasty action at this time can scarcely fail to increase the tension that still torments the nerves of Europe. There is a fatal momentum that carries Germany from one . success to another, creating in every case the need to push still further in the effort to achieve an unassailable position. If the eastern States are resigned to the inevitability of a Nazi hegemony there will be no real opposition, but merely a scramble to share the spoils or to achieve the precarious status of satellite Powers. But every new advance by Germany brings her nearer to the Soviet Union, and military action by the Nazis, even if it were intended merely as a sharp announcement of authority, might precipitate the major struggle which still seems to threaten world peace.