THE LITTLE ENTENTE.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 January 1924, Page 4

THE LITTLE ENTENTE.

According to a recent Press cable message, France is now welding, with the greatest rapidity, the joints W the massive defensive armour acquired, as the result of the war. by treaties altering the military and political perspective of Europe. Apart from the Tangier’s treaty, which permits passage of French and Spanish troops by the short sea route to Cape Tarifa, there is the Franco-Czecho-Slovakia treaty which develops the policy of France in preventing both a German monarchist restoration and an Austrian political union with Germany, while it ensures to France the support of Poland and the Little Entente. So much of outstanding importance has happened in Europe during the last five years that' the evolution of Czecho-Slo-vakia has probably been almost entirely overlooked. It is, therefore, interesting to note that the beginning of the sixth year of its existence finds Czecho-Slovakia, while not free from all internal difficulties, yet in a condition of remarkable stability. This is all the more astonishing by reason of the fact that the coalition Government, made up of five parties (the Social Democrats, National Democrats, National Socialists, Agrarians and Clericals) has remained a compact body against the Ge-man Magyars, the Slovakian Autonomists and the Czech opposition. For a new Republic to have to face such a complex number of interests must certainly have been a very formidable task. Fortunately the Prime Minister (Dr. Svehla) is a most tactful manager, anfc it is considered likely that the Government may continue to hold together for some time to come. One of the two most serious problems in Slovakia is the “Separatist” movement, which is primarily autonomist, yet contains elements that are frankly Magyar irredentist and averse to the idea of a Czecho-Slovak Republic existing at all. The first pr&sident of this new Republic (Dr. Masaryk) enjoys the singular felicity of seeing a great ideal, conceived in early youth and steadfastly cherished and pursued, come to full fruition in his later years. He has lived to see his people rise from the death-like stupor of four hundred years, cast out their alien rulers, and take their place anew among the free nations of the world; his has been the voice at which the Czech people have arisen. The war opened the way for the realisation of his life’s efforts, and he grasped the opportunity with the keen insight of a patriot statesman. To him the Allies largely owed the aid of that fine fighting stock in Italy and France, and to him the world owes the splendid spectacle of the great Czech march across Siberia, from the plains of Central Russia to the waters of the Pacific. His plan for the reconstitution of Central Europe, which was worked out and laid before the Allies in 1916, is based on the Entente and agreen¥&nt between the members of the Entente, while, reared upon that base of peace, the organisation of Little Entente received its first and warmest welcome in Britain. Masaryk led the people of his ancient race out of bondage, and France has seized the opportunity to enlist the co-operation of this Power in the event of another war being waged by her hereditary enemies. The element of uncertainty in Czecho-Slovakian affairs is the existence of a German minority bent on causing trouble, though regarded with tolerance —or intolerance. The Republic is represented on the League of Nations and is a strong advocate of peace, while steps have been taken in the direction of commercial treaties with differentcountries in order to give the new nationality a strong position in Central Europe.

As far as its international position goes, Czecho-Slovakia is at present particularly strong, and if nothing happens to arrest the evolution of this nation on the right lines it should become a potent factor in l the cause of peace. Whether this Re- | public was wise in joining hands with France in order to help towards securing I protection for France in the event of war lis open to question. Unhappily France has developed a selfishness that may prove a source of danger to her friends, so that in the event of another war the small nations may be ground to powder. France is desperately in earnest over strengthening her position in every possible way. Possibly she is not to blame for this policy of welding the points of her massive defensive armour, but not at the expense of new nationalities and the future of peace of Europe. It is to be hoped that the Little Entente will grow in strength and prove a real factor in world peace.