The Timaru Herald. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 1937 THE. FOLLY OF “WAR SCARES.”

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20761, 23 June 1937, Page 6

The Timaru Herald. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 1937 THE. FOLLY OF “WAR SCARES.”

Great Britain’s steadiness and sagacity in face of serious international reactions in relation to the terrific and devastating conflict in Spain, and the calm attitude of the British Foreign Secretary, in the company of the turbulent and often arrogant diplomatic representatives of Germany and Italy associated with the so-called nonintervention in Spain, have unquestionably made a memorable contribution to the cause of world peace. It is doubtful, if British statesmanship lost its grip on the tangled skein of European affairs, whether the peace of the world could be maintained. The bewildering situation created by the various phases of the Spanish conflict, might have turned British diplomacy into the course that leads to world chaos, but from day to day the amazing steadiness of Mr Anthony Eden, backed by the far-seeing and resolute British Cabinet, has provided the world with that sheet anchor which, at the moment, is the only factor that prevents the world drifting into the abyss. It is realised, of course, that war scares are plentiful enough in Europe these days, but as The Christian Science Monitor suggested the other day, that while it would be disingenous to assert that there does not exist a mental state which quite conceivably could produce war, it is somewhat consoling to reflect that many “war scares” have evaporated into thin air: It was, for example, gravely predicted soon after Versailles that Russia and Germany, both then ostracised, would get together and terrorise Europe. In point of fact, they did conclude a pact at Rapallo, and only gradually did the European fear of a Germano-Russian coalition melt away. To-day it is the opposite apprehension which prevails. Will not Russia and Germany, both under dictatorships, but apparently widely separated in their "ideology,” sooner or later fight each other? And is not Europe dividing itself into two camps in anticipation of this eventuality? But already there are rumours of a coming rapprochement of Germany and Russia. At present the suggestions are listened to with scepticism, but it would not be hazardous to predict that before long there will be a new “war scare," based not on RussoGerman hostility, but on Russo-German understanding. From year to year the wheel of fortune has turned most disturbingly, and sometimes the average intelligent citizen has felt amazed at the credulity which “war scares” encounter. International antagonisms have flared up almost to the point of wide-sweeping conflagration, but ultimately it has been found that although the issues were discussed in deadly earnestness, and no solution seemed to emerge, the genral disinclination of all peoples to become embroiled in another world conflagration, has demonstrated in the end that the people at least do not wish to fight.