The Wanganui Chronicle FRIDAY, MAY 19, 1933. THE INTERNATIONAL SITUATION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 116, 19 May 1933, Page 6

The Wanganui Chronicle FRIDAY, MAY 19, 1933. THE INTERNATIONAL SITUATION

yHE situation in Europe, for some time past, has been consistently deteriorating, and it has taken President Franklin Roosevelt’s speech to strengthen the pacific elements. The degree of distrust among the nations has been gradually and persistently increasing in recent months. This has been particularly in evidence among the smaller Powers. The rapproaehment between Italy and Germany always has a disturbing effect upon France, but Poland has of late become restive, fearing that Italy and England will use their influence to bring about a revision of treaties, and that this revision will include the taking away from Poland the narrow strip of land which runs right across North Germany to the Free Port of Danzig. This strip of land, known as the Polish Corridor, because it provides that country with a passage-way to the sea coast, is essential to Poland’s economic well-being. Poland is somewhat blind to the effects upon Germany whieh arise from Polish possession of the corridor, and perceive only the results which would flow from a loss of possession. A land-locked country would not be in a position to trade with the outside world save under sufferance from its neighbours. Poland is painfully aware of this because it has suffered such an interference since the State of Lithuania closed the river Vistula to the transit of Polish trade. It is recognised that a State's sovereignty rights are absolute within its own territories, and consequently when trade of another country passes through territory of the first State, it has the right to deny transit facilities at any time without giving the injured State any grounds for real complaint. A State, like a householder, can do as he likes in its own backyard. While this is a recognised principle of international law, Poland will desire to retain the corridor. With the rise of Hitlerism in Germany these apprehensions naturally have become more acute. Poland leans on France, but France has not been as disturbed by Hitlerism as some commentators are inclined to surmise. The French mind is always realistic and it sees in Hitlerite excesses a problem which will keep Germany busily engaged in straightening out her internal relations. German trade will suffer in consequence of her having antagonised universal Jewry, while the same cause has alienated the sympathies of America and Britain. Nevertheless, Adolf Hitler’s speech on foreign policy was awaited with apprehension by the world in general. Germany, rightly enough, pointed out that since the nations of Europe had not disarmed she was entitled to a parity of arms with her neighbours. The Disarmament Conference looked like foundering and going down with nothing done. In this tense atmosphere the stage was set for much mischief to be done. A stillness pregnant with possibilities intervened. It was during this intermission that President Roosevelt realised that a word from him would have a tremendous effect. He took a course which, in some circumstances, was tremendously bold. With sabre rattling the vogue in Germany, with Japan forsaking the role of the protector of its own property, and waging war in China proper, the spokesman of the most powerful nation in the world proposes that powerful weapons of aggression shall be abolished and brought all the weight of his great country into line with the efforts of Mr. Ramsay MacDonald and the British Government to make an effective effort to curtail arms. After such a thunderclap the speech of Adolf Hitler is an anti-climax. Herr Hitler’s speech has been turned into an echo, and the opportunist showman in him realised the necessity for a quieter note. He could not outsound Roosevelt and he was wise enough not to try to do so. America’s active intervention should produce a much more stable condition in Europe, and should it do so, then there is a much brighter prospect of the Disarmament Conference achieving much good work.