The Waikato Independent THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1934. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3236, 22 November 1934, Page 4

The Waikato Independent THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1934. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

EUROPE ARMING "It is ridiculous to talk of disarm: ing when there is such preparation for war as I have seen in Europe," said Mr David Maughan, K.C., of Sydney, in an interview with the .special representative of the Melbourne "Herald," i on his return to London from a. tour which took him through Belgium , and Germany, to the Czechoslovakian mountains, on the edge oLDofeufln ap,s then through Budapest and f: ; • back to Holland. He said-tip*.!,.-he .had seen so much uncertainty not dare to prophesy. Me Maftgfean yisited eight' countries.. Tya,veiling.;.ia- r ibis o;wn ; ear, he was. ablevto. learn from • people in high places man •in the street. He said that he liad ex- , perienced great kindness and; courtesyeverywhere. . If , , ..y, v.aV v... ]'*. "Austria is the danger spot,” Mr Maughan said. "If there is to be war it seems most probable that it will originate in Austria. Austria (withHungary) has been a great nation, but, after the, war, it was reduced so that its population is now less than that of Australia. Of its six million people , more than two million live in Vienna. But it has no considerable industrial areas, and its agriculture is insufficient to carry the nation. The result is that vast numbers of Austrians have come to the conclusion that their only hope is to’-link tlieir country's fortunes to Germany’s. At least half the population, from the intelligentsia to the labouring classes, appears to be pro-Nazi. The Government is a government of the minority, for its backing is further diminished by the Communist opposition. " ‘ ‘ The revolutionary parties are being crushed by those i n authority,, but they ' will rise again. Many informed observ- ! ers in Austria foretell that a new outbreak will occur in Austria before the iend of the year. . » •. ; 11 That is the internal. .trouble that may kindle an international blaze—as the murder at Sarajevo started the last i world conflagration. This unhappy ■country remains an armed camp, armed against the enemies within its gates. Soldiers- are at very many of its | ibridges; at frequent intervals along the railroads, guarding the houses and the offices of the Cabinet ministers, even I’blocking the approach of ears to the Chancellery. ] On opposite sides of this small but , Very important State are Germany and gWly. On the north Germany watches, jfbluiy, as wc saw at the,. time, of the jpultfuss assassination, to r,v,sh into the fray and to send numbers of giant lorries toward the frontier. We saw, and at night heard heavily-canvassed lqrries (i -the- contents of which wp,- cpsdd I .oniy | guess.’But they passed by ajl.day and ■ fell* through the night, very ,ffirge- ~very( ■ mysterious, and all going,, :| ,southryarfj. One could not but notice, too, the, large fcumber: of aircraft (which are, of I course, listed as civil planes but are j easily convertible to weapons of war). I ■ "The Brown Shirts, serious and responsible members of the community, j remain very much in evidence. When wo' were at Heidelberg wc saw com- ' panics of them, including one of women. On another occasion we saw a youth of 15 drilling boys aged about 10. The myriads of flags from end to end of Germany contradict the reports that the nation is not behind its leader. When you speak with German eiti- | jzens - you realise that 90 per cent of ) jdieiri have made up their minds that I jheir hope lies in Hitler, even though V they may disapprove of his methods. , They have tired of party and they aceept him as the man to load them back j to prosperity. In that spirit Germany I will, follow the Swastika, if need be to war. But militarism is not confined to Germany. Everywhere we went in these i iC(fUntrie& : we saw signs of preparedness *, for war. The man in the street was J full of kindness and courtesy toward - bs> and nowhere did we find the slightest trace of animosity toward Britain. t |&)it fthe international feeling is such that; while these people do not want war, they are ready to stand firmly behind their leaders if the need arises in. the cause of the . restoration ’ or the, maintenance of their countries ’ ..rights.

In this region of conflicting nationalities patriotism is intense and each man seems to realise that ho may be called upon to fight his neighbour. "Italy is the most military of these nations, most careful over passports (even far from the frontiers) most assured and efficient in its soldiery. Italy is determined that there shall be no interference with the independence of Austria. Roads, better than any civil roads need be, run to the Austrian frontier in impressive number. Work is proceeding on them by mass effort, not in progressive sections as with civil roads. Throughout one stretch of 50 miles we found continuous squads of workmen duplicating and improving one such road. Soldiers are numerous, and there are many buildings that look like forts and barracks. "These warlike preparations are evident, too, in the smaller States. The division of Hungary by the Treaty of Trianon deprived that country of some of its greatest assets. As the Germans have plastered Germany with innumerable reminders of the Saar, the Hungarians have plastered their country with undisguised propaganda against the existing boundaries. ‘No, No, Never! ’ is one .propaganda comment on the acceptance of the Treaty of Trianon. "The racial turmoil that has troubled these countries for so long was increased a hundredfold by the partition after the War, and the bitterness has :been; intensified by . friction over care%ssly drawn frontiers. And there is apparent a willingness to carry this feeling to war when tiie leaders decide. Witness the ; discussion over the Hungarian minorities. The political diflieulties_and the unprecedented economic crisis have placed, these nations under dictators. Free from electoral uncertainties and parliamentary hindrances they may choose their own moans of restoring the fortunes of. their peoples, time only will show with what success. But one thing is apparent. When we see such warlike, preparations as these we realise how ridiculous it is to talk of disarmament in Britain and Australia. ”