The Southland Times FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 1939. The German March Eastward

Southland Times, Issue 23769, 17 March 1939, Page 6

The Southland Times FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 1939. The German March Eastward

rpHE end of Czechoslovakia’s -* national independence may cause rejoicing in Germany, where it will be acclaimed as the Leader’s latest triumph against the effete democracies; but to the rest of the world it is a chilling reminder that Europe has passed into a phase of international lawlessness from which there may be no escape except through the catastrophe of a major war. Events have reached a point beyond which it is idle to look for any change of heart or tactics by the Nazis. Every advance into new territory seems to bring its own compulsion towards further aggression. There need, no longer be any talk of downtrodden minorities, for nearly 10,000,000 Czechs and Slovaks now pass under German rule, and no doubt there will be brand new concentration camps for those who dare to speak of “self-determination. In the words of The Daily Telegraph, “we can no longer have any doubt about the character of the Power confronting us in Central Europe.” The Next Move?

What will be the next move? It has been natural to assume that after every coup the Nazis would call a halt while Greater Germany digested her gains, and that henceforth there would be insidious penetration rather than open annexation. Yet in every case the pause has been brief. There are two feasible explanations for this policy of hasty expansion. One is that Germany, committed to an imperialist doctrine and aware that sooner or later she must face ‘the resistance of one or more of the Great Powers, is determined to take advantage of her flying start in the armaments race and to seize what she can before Britain regains a formidable strength. The other is that Germany’s economic position is precarious and that expansion must be carried out quickly if it is. to provide the expedients which seem to be inseparable from a predatory system. It is probably true that all these considerations influenced Herr Hitler in his latest coup. Meanwhile he appears to be approaching a stage where further aggression must bring him into conflict with interests other than those of small and comparatively weak nations. The occupation of Ruthenia by Hungary may prove in the long run to be not much different from an occupation by Germany: it means that the south-eastern tip of the anti-Comintern bloc now rests more heavily against the frontier of Rumania. This country has valuable oil fields, and it has been reported lately that Germany s own oil deficiency has weakened the drive for self-sufficiency. Britain and Russia

But the annexation of Rumania would take Germany down to the Black Sea, an event so threatening to Russia that the mere possibility might lead to intervention by the Red Army. British oil interests would also be in danger, and the fact that there is a growing agitation in all political parties in Britain for a rapprochement with the Soviet Union must convince Herr Hitler that the time has .come to walk delicately. The position of Hungary and Poland will cause speculation: it is possible that the new PolishHungarian frontier may provide the gateway for the next long march by German troops. In the meantime it should be realized that' unless the Nazis mean to push eastward into increasingly difficult country their next sphere of activity must be somewhere in the west. To pretend that Germany is now a satisfied Power would be to ignore the facts of a dangerous situation.