EUROPEAN STATES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 91, 17 April 1929, Page 8

EUROPEAN STATES

POST-WAR IMPRESSIONS ROTARY CLUB ADDRESS A review of the countries of Europe, was furnished by Mr J. C. Burton, F.R.G.S-, of Leicester, England, in the course of an interesting address at the weekly luncheon of the Wanganui Rotary Club yesterday. Speaking of post-war condition, the two prominent belligerent countries were Czechoslovakia and Italy, said Air Burton. The former country hail a population of about 14,000,000. Of this 65 per cent, were Czechs ami 23 per cent, were Germans. The constitution of the country guaranteed religious and political freedom. Czecho Slovakia possessed great mineral wealth. Tr.e. people were very hard workers Aid many of them were highly skilled. He thought that the country was working out its salvation. Passing on to Italy, the speaker said that he believed Mussolini to be one of the greatest of dictators. He had done the country much good. The Press, however, was much gagged, and this was not a good sign because this meant the absence of free speech. There was a warm feeling for English tourists in the countrv.

In Jugo-Slavia there was a good deal of international strife. The country was suffering from a lack of capital. The people were backward but, at the same time a system of State education was being introduced and the country would gradually be westernised. In Hungary and Austria the economic condition was very poor. There was a good deal of poverty both in Vienna and Budapest. Turning to Germany, the speaker said that he thought the war spirit had passed away and in its place the people were occupying themselves iu industrial activities. Compared with the standard of li\ ing in England, that of Germany was low. There was, however, a good deal of trade prosperity and there were very few bankruptcies. Such jealousy as formerly existed before the war on account of Great Britain had vanished.

There was a good deal of wealth in Holland as a result of the war conditions. The people of that country were likeable and reliable. Belgium had made a wonderful recovery from the effects of the war but a good deal remained to be done.

France was a country of high tariffs. .The people were of somewhat peculiar temperament. They were very thrifty and, on the whole, industrious. Their ideas of life were very different from tho British idea. The Frenchman perhaps lived his life more than the Englishman but the speaker did not think he accomplished as much. France was an interesting country with many problems. After referring to Switzerland as a country which had been less affected by the v\ar and post-war conditions than the other state s of Europe. Air Burton went on to speak of Denmark. Like most of the small countries, (Denmark readily felt the economic stress. In 1919 the northern part of Schleswig was awarded to Denmark. Alost ot the inhabitants of the town spoke English and some of them displayed a remarkable knowledge of the language. The outlook in Sweden had changed quite a lot since the war. No doubt its position in relation to Germany had caused it to copy that country in many things. It had an efficient telephone and railway services- The latter was most extensive and provided comfortable travelling, a journey of 400 miles being thought an easy undertaking. On the whole, Sweden gave the impression of a well ordered country.

The people of Norway led simple lives and had quiet tastes. People of any note there spoke English. Norway had tried prohibition but in 1927 the law enforcing it was voted out. In 1809 Finland wa s taken from Sweden by Russia and hi J 917 it proclaimed its independence. The railway facilities were poor in this country. A noteworthy feature of Finland was its immense tracts of forests. Afr Benson went on to say that he had never visited Russia, although he had heard a great deal about it. There was no doubt that there was great wretchedness there. The root of the trouble was the illiterate condition of the people. Another big problem was the lack of adequate transport. It was quite possible, under present conditions, for something to happen in one village and the next to know nothing about it. The question of transport was one of the biggest which would have to be considered in the re-establishment ot the country. He firmly believed that a new Russia would eventually emerge. When the immense mineral wealth which lay there, could be tapped it would help things the world over. It was worthy of note that every country in Europe had. in effect, stabilised the exchange, and that should make for good trade, said the speakerThat, he thought, would bo. the salvation of Europe and, in such an event, the future would be a happy one. He thought that people to-day were living beyond their means and this was a big factor in hindering trade progress and development.

In conclusion, Mr Burton said that (he impression of the average Britisher was that he did not travel enough or take much in?crest when he did travel. He subscribed to that view and believed that if the Britisher travelled more and took into account the views of the other countries, it might give him a better idea in determining his own policy.