The Timaru Herald. FRIDAY, JUNE 25, 1937 GERMANY’S CHALLENGE TO EUROPE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20763, 25 June 1937, Page 8

The Timaru Herald. FRIDAY, JUNE 25, 1937 GERMANY’S CHALLENGE TO EUROPE.

Only a realisation of the measure of regimentation that lias been applied to the Press of Germany and Italy, will place in correct perspective the press attacks being launched on Britain and the principal Ministers of the Imperial Cabinet. Berlin newspapers, we were informed yesterday, were blaming Britain alone for being responsible for the crisis. This of course is an old game! Today the British Foreign Minister is attacked. It is nevertheless of the highest significance that The Times has handled the situation in such outspoken language; indeed, the great London newspaper declares in the plainest of language that “a shadow of doubt hangs over the alleged attack on the Leipzig.” This definite challenge to the German naval authorities to institute independent inquiries has aroused resentment in Berlin, and has called forth the strongest protest from the German Ambassador in London. Nevertheless it is being pointed out. in London that Germany’s attitude contrasts with that of Britain and France, which made similar incidents, such as the mining of the destroyer Hunter on May 14, and the machine gunning of a French passenger aeroplane on May 26, the subject of peaceful representations. But Germany has other plans. These, however, have not I been hidden from the searching eyes of The Times: I “When discussions between Britain and Germany held out the prospect of deeper stability in Europe, Germany has chosen a curious moment to magnify the Spanish incidents. “Small wonder, the paper adds, “if some suspect that she seeks to take advantage of the French political confusion, and wonder if Germany is repeating past errors in succumbing to the temptations of uncovenanted opportunism in making hostility towards other nations the price of German friendship.” It is not surprising that the French Press expresses profound thankfulness for British friendships in face of Germany’s recourse to her old game of taking advantage of Europe’s preoccupation in other spheres, to smash through treaties, covenants and pacts. But the crisis has at least yielded welcome fruits in one direction, because the reaction in democratic countries—the consolidation of ant'-Nazi influences —has been as instantaneous as it has been emphatic, in the protest raised by free peoples against Germany’s action in seizing the present dangerous moment to attempt to bully the rest of Europe.