Wairarapa Times-Age MONDAY, MAY 29, 1939. WEAKENING THE PEACE FRONT.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 May 1939, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age MONDAY, MAY 29, 1939. WEAKENING THE PEACE FRONT.

'MEMBERS of the Opposition in the House of Commons do not stand alone, it may be supposed, in regarding with "rent concern the indicate,d attitude of the British Piime Minister (Mr Chamberlain) on the question of recognising the annexation by Germany of the Czech territories of Bohemia and Moravia. When he was asked last week for an assuianee that there would be no recognition of the annexation without prior consultation of the House of Commons, Mr Chamberlain refused to give it, ‘‘and reminded the Opposition that Parliament had its own constitutional way of expressing its approval or disapproval of the Government’s action in matters which were the Government’s responsibility.”

Apart from the particular merits of the question involved, this reminder is objectionably dictatorial in tone. A British Government pursuing a. policy it is prepared to defend in the light of day may find, as a rule, excellent reasons for submitting proposals to Parliament before they are carried into effect, and no good reasons for refusing to do so.

This most certainly applies to the question of recognising the annexation'of the Czech territories. As .Mr Chamberlain has himself not only recognised, but emphasised, the German seizure of Bohemia and Moravia was an outrageous international crime. Speaking in the House of Commons only ten days ago, the British Prime Minister said that what had profoundly disturbed the public mind everywhere, even more than the annexation, was the patent contradiction between these proceedings and the assurances which Germany had frequently and solemnly given to the world. >

That contradiction (Mr Chamberlain added) completely undermined the sense of security throughout Europe and created a widespread feeling that the independence of no small nation was safe if it stood in the way of German ambition. It was in these circumstances that Britain thought it her duty, in conjunction with France, to intervene and try to supply a new stabilising factor.

Mr Chamberlain went on to speak of the guarantees given to Poland, Greece and Rumania and of the hope entertained of reaching an agreement with Soviet Russia, to establish a strong peace front in Europe. ,

In that statement, the seizure v of Bohemia and Moravia was indicted fairly and frankly as a crime which had shocked free nations and awakened them to the neessity of combining free nations and awakened them to the necessity of combining of the crime committed against the Czechs, but Mr Chamberlain has given serious grounds for a belief that he is now prepared to condone the crime.

It is not consistent with common sense to suppose that he is making an assertion of dictatorial authority merely as an empty parade. His refusal to give an assurance that his Government will not recognise, without submitting the question to Parliament, the German annexation of Bohemia and Moravia must, be taken to mean that he contemplates extending that recognition without seeking the authority of Parliament to do so. This,plainly would mean condoning a crime which, as Mr Chamberlain has himself said, has created a. widespread feeling that, the independence of no small nation is safe if it stands in the way of German ambition—a crime which compelled Britain and France to intervene in an attempt to supply a new stabilising factor in Europe.

On all grounds, and especially because it is morally indefensible, the policy which Mr Chamberlain has explicitly refused to pledge himself not to pursue evidently would be very likely to undermine and wreck the efforts that are being made to build up a peace front in Europe. Apart from the fact that it involved a deliberate violation of Germany’s very recent pledges, the seizure of the Czech territories and suppression of Czech liberties was an abominable outrage which no selfrespecting nation or combination of such nations should dream of condoning. The recognition of this outrage would be flatly inconsistent, with a firm and united stand against further aggression.

An assurance was given by Sir John Simon in the House of Commons at the end of last week that no irrevocable action would be taken in the matter of consular representation at Prague (which involves the question of recognition of the German annexation) until after the present brief recess. This assurance modifies only temporarily and to an uncertain degree the extremely disturbing position established by Mr Chamberlain’s earlier statement, on the same subject—a statement which evidently will not assist the success of the negotiations now beintr conducted with-Russia.

* NEW ZEALAND TOYS.

ACCORDING to the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr Sullivan) there is no likelihood of New Zealand children going short of toys next Christmas on account of import restrictions. Empire toys, he states, can still be imported and Dominion toy manufacturers are extending their factories. The Minister’s confidence probably is 'warranted. There is no obvious reason why toys of all. kinds should not be produced within the Dominion, in such a volume and variety as would amply satisfy the most exacting demands of childhood. No doubt, however, it would still be necessary to import some of the materials used in toy-making.

Taking account of the prices at which toys are sold, it should not be necessary Io rely solely on factory production in catering for juvenile requirements.. .moderately skilled craftsman, equipped only 'with tools and perhaps with an. inexpensive item or two of machinery, could turn out an immense number of toys in the course of a year. Probably, too, there is a good market waiting for toys that might be produced by individual workers capable of bringing originality and ingenuity to bear upon the task of devising and making playthings that would appeal to young New Zealanders. Something of the kind is being done here and there, but a great deal more might be done and there should be no difficulty in more than making good any shortage of toys resulting from the restriction of imports.

In the near approach of the Centennial year, with its historical associations, there should be many suggestions for those who are prepared to bring a measure of inventive skill to bear upon the designing and production of toys that would appeal to youngsters of various ages and at the same time would possess something of a national character. Early day vehicles of water and land transport, from the emigrant ship to the bullock wagon, not forgetting the Maori canoe, have their possibilities, from. this standpoint, along with numerous more modern models and types.