TALK OF WAR.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20238, 23 February 1934, Page 4

TALK OF WAR.

Causes of Unrest in Europe. AUSTRIA THE DANGER. Austria is the danger point of Europe at the present time, according to an authority on international affairs, Dr E. P. Remond, a Doctor of Laws in the Paris University, now visiting Christchurch on business. He is a director of the Pacific Potash Company and is accompanied by Mr Leith ’ Napier, of Auckland. Dr Remond gave it as his opinion that there was too much talk of war at the present time. He said that Austria was placed in the most strategic position and if the Nazis were to attempt to assume control there would be a grave danger. He believed, however, that war would be averted, for the reason that Italy would not be anxious to 'have common boundaries with Germany, which would happen if Austria were occupied. France and England had also announced their intention of keeping Austria independent. “In my opinion,” said Dr Remond, “Hitler will realise that an occupation would be dangerous and, so far as is known, he does not propose to follow that course. “Germany, in common with most of the other nations of the world, is quite occupied with putting her own house in order. I don’t think there will be war for the time being.” The French Ministry.

The newly-formed National Union Ministry in France, headed by M. Gas ton Doumergue, comprised all the pos sible leaders in France. It extended from the group of Nevy Socialists, under M. Andrien Marquet, to the group of the Right under M. Louis Maris, that was to say, all the groups with the ex elusion of the Communists, the socialist Marxists and the extreme Right. There were the strongest possible leaders in eluding M. Louis Germain-Martin, th' Minister of Finance, M. Louis Barthou Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Marshal Henri Petain, who was in command o the French army during the war, as Minister of War,

All the rioting in Paris stopped as soon as the Government was formed and the Government was likely to last a long time as it had a large majority. T here was not a chance of Fascism, because the Ministry was com posed of practically all the groups. It was possible that' it might be found expedient to dissolve the Chamber, but that was not certain and in any case he thought the National Government would again be returned by a large majority. “France,” said Dr Remond, “is quite opposed to dictatorships.”