The Wanganui Chronicle TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 1936. THE EUROPEAN CRISIS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 65, 17 March 1936, Page 6

The Wanganui Chronicle TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 1936. THE EUROPEAN CRISIS

H'JUGH the position in Europe has clarified over the week-end it still remains in a condition of crisis. In the first place it is clear, from the speech delivered by Herr Hitler at Munich, that the move was a preliminary event' to the commencing of the general election in Germany. In that speech Herr Hitler places two things before the German people, the sovereignty of the Reich and the honour of the German people. Considering the riven state of Germany a few weeks ago, the issues selected by Herr Hitler and placed irrevocably before the German electorate must be regarded as approaching a stroke of genius. For the time being, at any rate, Herr Hitler has united the people at his own back and smothered all opposition to his internal programme. There is no gainsaying that Herr Hitler has keen political insight and plays the moves of the game like an old hand. It must not be inferred, however, that by this splendid piece of stagecraft he has dissolved the difficulties which have been confronting him for some time. Those difficulties are still there. Herr Hitler declares that Germany wants peace. This is actually true, but can Germany have peace.’ Hitler’s movement lias conjured up a Frankenstein monster which the creator may find ilifficulty in controlling. There are in Germany to-day men who desire to dominate neighbouring countries, and particularly incorporate in the Reich borders all territory wherein dwell Germanic people. Germany does not want Io attack France, but she does want to extend her borders in an easterly direction at the expense of Austria and Czechoslovakia, and possibly Poland. While these countries are united by treaty obligations to France, and France to them, and England is willing to support France if she be attacked, the prospect of Germany gaining this desired territory is not good. But if Germany can present Europe with a fait accompli in this instance there is every prospect of her attempting to repeat the manoeuvre at the next favourable moment. The fact that the Reichswehr, as the professional army is called, is reported to be opposed to the occupation of the Rhineland. indicates that those best able to judge have no desire to engage Germany in a military offensive, while the fact that Baron von Neurath is being listened to with greater attention reveals that Herr Hitler is by no means sure of the value of his gesture when the foreign relations of Germany are taken into account. The duel which is being fought between the Nazis and Dr. Schacht, the economic dictator of Germany, is a battle between Nazi romanticism and Teutonic realism. Dr. Schacht, weighing the facts of the situation in which Germany is in today. cannot be other than a realist. As a realist he appreciates the necessity for Germany building up her export trades, and she cannot do this with bombs or bayonets; it must be built, on goodwill. The present policy is destructive of all that Germany requires for her economic salvation. Why. then, does Herr Hitler go out on these dangerous He does so because he cannot stand still. His policy is self-exhaustive and he is moving fast to the climax which shall test him and weigh him in the balance. He may stave off the inevitable for a while by raising the fear of Bolshevism. but it is like building a wall of sand on the seashore to keep back the ocean. The march of events is inexorable. The laws of God grind slow, but they grind exceedingly small. Shall this man bring the whole of Europe to the brink of war? He is playing a desperate game. It is essential for him to win the forthcoming election, and for France and England to make a show of opposing the German people would help him consolidate the German people. It is not necessary to be proGerman in order to see that a firm front at the moment, as advocated by the French and Belgian Governments, would be the best assistance which Herr Hitler could have during the next fortnight. The French, nevertheless, through having pursued a selfish policy for so long, have certainly dissipated the bond of sympathy which existed between the French and the British peoples at the close of the war, and there is no anxiety to come to the aid of France for her own sake. This may seem at first sight to be an unsatisfactory aspect of the present situation, but on further examination it will be seen to be just as well there is no such enthusiasm for France in the United Kingdom, for it will mean that precipitate action will not be taken at this stage, and so aid Herr Hitler, or perhaps, to put it more plainly, it will not hand him ovei to the Frankenstein monster of aggressive Nazism from which he will be unable to extricate himself.