The Timaru Herald MONDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1937 THE RIDDLE OF BERLIN-ROME AXIS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20897, 29 November 1937, Page 8

The Timaru Herald MONDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1937 THE RIDDLE OF BERLIN-ROME AXIS

Although the democracies of the world have not altogether lost faith in diplomatic discussions and unofficial talks, British and French statesmanship is not blind to the supreme issues that confront them in Europe to-day. It is moreover generally recognised that the fate of Europe may well depend upon the answer whether the concept of “Central Europe,” as seen by freedom-loving democracies, or that of a “Mitteleurope” advocated by totalitarian states, revolving round the Rome-Berlin axis, will prevail. This question affects recent negotiations between Great Britain, France, Germany and Italy for a “new Locarno,” that is another Western Security Pact to replace the Locarno Treaty of 1925, which Germany repudiated on March 7, 1936. Moreover, the recent talks which Herr Hitler and Lord Halifax carried through behind closed doors, and the coming AngloFrench discussion seem to reveal the anxiety of the democratic nations to And a solution of the riddle of Central Europe. No less do these talks and negotiations affect the relations of Germany and Poland as between themselves and with Soviet Russia and Czechoslovakia. It is realised, of course, that he would be a bold man indeed who should prophesy what the position of Central Europe will be a year hence. And because it is recognised by leaders and peoples of the Western World that the issues really at stake are those of mastery over the Continent cf Europe under the “Mitteleurope” policy of totalitarian authority or freedom under the beneficient guidance and protection of democracy, that deep concern is felt in relation to the policies of Germany and Italy. It is not surprising that the eyes of the smaller nations of Central Europe are turning to London in an endeavour to pierce the clouds of secrecy behind which recent talks have been conducted. All lovers of peace hope that the position in Central Europe will be strengthened, but it cannot be denied that so intricate are the interests involved in the contest now being waged in diplomatic circles in Europe and so wide their ramifications, that there is scarcely an important capital in the world where their influence is not felt. Neither Tokyo nor Washington, is altogether outside their range—as recent developments have shown—and, as for London, the lines of clearage between contending views of British foreign policy are dtermined indirectly by the problem of Central Europe. On the face of recent discussion it would appear that Germany speaks with two voices. But the world has it straight from the shoulder this morning in the speech of General Goering, who may be regarded as the mouthpiece of the Nazi fire-eaters who are in control of Germany to-day: “The steel axis binding us with Rome and Toklo,” said General Goering at Hamburg on Saturday, “is a better guarantee of world peace than the League of Nations chatterboxes which meet at Geneva.” Here is a challenge to all lovers of peace, and this is emphasised by General Goering’s further observation: “We shall not cease to demand our colonies back, and we shall succeed not through good will, but our own strength.’ And in tune with this threat, is the official Japanese statement: “Japan may And it necessary to resort to force to gain possesion of the International Settlement in Shanghai.” These challenges to treaty-respecting countries should be met by. an immediate reply from. British, American and French statesmanship to the effect that the democracies of the world have resolutely set themselves against warlike adventures of every kind in any quarter.