FOREIGN POLICY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21179, 28 October 1938, Page 6

FOREIGN POLICY

What Comes Next? New Czecho-Slovakia (From Out Own Correspondent) LONDON, October 7. People are waiting with lively interest to se how Mr Chamberlain will develop the foreign policy begun in his talks with Hitler. He has wider ideas than merely friendship pacts with Germany and Italy. Some observers believe that he aims at creating a new or reformed League of Nations. Either Britain would take the initiative in proposing such changes in the existing League as would make it possible for Germany and Italy to return to the or else a new groun outside the League would be formed, consisting of Britain, France, Germany and Italy, with such other nations as might later join. But whatever course Mr Chamberlain adopts, one thorny problem will cross his path very soon— Germany’s colonial claims. That problem is not made any easier bv the fact, which seems to be almost forgotten in Europe, that the former German Colonies do not belong to any nation, but are held in trust as Mandates under the League. The New Czechoslovakia Months must elapse before the new Czechoslovakia can even begin to reckon up in cash what she has lost by cession to Germany of the Sudeten areas. Individual Czech citizens evacuating the Sudetenland have had to sacrifice houses, shops, factories and other property. Apart from these private losses, the biggest State loss Is the £80,000,000 which has been spent on fortifications and guns along the old frontier. But despite the national humiliation, there is something to be placed on the credit side. Under the Munich Agreement Czechoslovakia is soon to become a permanently neutral State, like Switzerland, with frontiers guaranteed by the four Powers. She will therefore no longer need to make such enormous expenditure on arms and fortifications. Though the Sudetenland is naturally rich, a large proportion of its population is distressed. It is as though Britain lost slices of South Wales and Durham. But at first any relief which the Czech budget may feel in this respect will be more than balanced by the needs of several hundred thousand anti-German citizens who have fled from the ceded areas. Is National Register Workable? Advocates of a National Register for Britain are pressing their demand with renewed force. They say that the crisis has given overwhelming proof of the necessity for allocating to every citizen some special task in the event of war. A Bill conscripting everyone to the nation’s service is believed to be tucked away In a Whitehall pigeon-hole ready for an emergency. But whether the Government will bring it out before such emergency arises is still doubtful. The crisis showed that there was no lack of volunteers for the fighting services. Military conscription would not have been necessary unless t“e war had lasted a long time. The A.R.P., Auxiliary Fire Brigades and other civilian services also seemed likely tc get all the recruits they needed on a voluntary basis. Opponents of a National Register say that it is not only unnecessary, but unworkable. They contend that many millions of people would not fit into

any branch of national service. Attempts to enroll them would lead to endless confusion and dislocation of ordinary business, A large staff would have to be constantly at work keeping the register up to date, as people would die, grow old, become invalids, move house, or otherwise beccme unavailable for the particular tasks allotted to them on the register.

Is a Boom Coming? “Now for the good times!” shouted one exultant headline in the week following the war-scare. Some manufacturers and traders are, in fact, hoping for a boom now that the international clouds have lifted. But sober experts are not so sure. Unless there is a radical change in the economic as well as the political outlook for the world, any “boomlet” is likely to be shortlived.

Most relieved at the passing of the crisis are doubtless the motor manufacturers. Orders suffered a shocking slump during the weeks of uncertainty, which came a the very time when well-to-do motorists are thinking of changing their cars for newer models. Happily the war-scare has passed just before the annual motor show, and manufacturers are hoping for record asales of 1939 models.

But apart from purchases of motorcars and house properly and other big deals which were only postponed until after the crisis, it seems unlikely that most people will have much money to spend. Practically every citizen in the whole country was out of pocket owing to the crisis. Some bought or rented country houses, some —id in large unwanted stocks of food, and even the humblest spent unnecessary shillings on electric torches, candles and A.R.P. equipment. Now people will have to save hard to make up for this crisis expenditure. Fatness Sells An investigator of the Institute of Industrial Psychology in London has been studying the weights of sales managers. This seemingly useless enquiry was prompted by a desire to check the accuracy of a theory which classifies people according to physique as “asthenic”, “athletic” or “pyknic.” Tire first two types are thin and weight. “Pyknics,” on the other hand, are fat and round-faced.

But it was the pyschological qualities of “pyknics” which interested the investigator. They are, according to the theory, “cheery, egoistic, talkative, social and skilful at handling men.” These are the very qualities which should make a successful sales manager. Sure enough, the researcher found that the best sales managers are “pyknics.” Those holding the best jobs had an average weight of 1731bs and those not so successful averaged only 1591b5. Thus a good sales manager is 141bs heavier than a bad one.

An Uncrowded Profession The young man who wants to be sure of a good living should take up dentistry. In this country at any rate, it is one of the few professions where there is no danger of overcrowding. Mr Herbert Eason, Principal of London University, said this week that there are not enough men entering the profession to provide for the needs of the populatino. Last year only 350 new dentists qualified, as compared with 422 four years ago. And the reason? Dentistry professors say that students have the same instinctive reactions is ordinary people —a dread of the chair and the drill. They regard dentistry as a pain-in-flicting and unpopular profession. Yet those who overcome the prejudice can easily earn £4OO or £5OO a year soon after qualifying, and many dentists are in the £l,ooo-a-year class. Toujours la PoHtcss* 1 The Foreign Office has just received a “thank you letter” from the German Embassy in London. The Embassy wishes to express its gratitude for the gas masks which were given to every membei of the staff at the height of the crisis.