Western Star WALLACE COUNTY GAZETTE. TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 1939. DEMOCRACIES v. AUTOCRACIES.

Western Star, 7 March 1939, Page 2

Western Star WALLACE COUNTY GAZETTE. TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 1939. DEMOCRACIES v. AUTOCRACIES.

No man can doubt that -the final struggle of the democracies against the autocracies is approach.ng. It is simply not credible that at the end of 1939 the world could be the. same as it is now. Either the totalitarian States will have begun their retreat t 0 a more liberal form of government or the democracies will ihave been forced to adopt the methods if not the actual spirit of totalitarianism. It is not too much to say that in the coming year the fate of personal liberty will be decided for a long time. Will the decision be reached by war ? The risks of a general European war in 1939 are far less than in 1938. The German General Staff knovf that without Italy on their side a successful war would be impossible. On the other hand, they realise that with Italy as an ally, exposed as she would bo to the AngloFrench fleets and a possible attack from Turkey, Germany would have t 0 go to her aid. Tjha,t would cu|, acrdss the whole German plan of fighting on inferior lines. Yet she could not afford to let Italy g 0 down and sue for a separate peace. That would break the none-too-strong morale of the German uation. Therefore the strategical weakness of Italy is a potent force for peace. Rome is the vulnerable point in the famous axis. This is clearly recognised in Berlin. In the meantime the relentless economic forces are at work. Herr Hitler has his famous mountain retreat at Berchtesgiuleii, where he likes t 0 listen to the song of his thousands of nightingales. But the music of the skies cannot shut out the harsh bolero of the cities: "Costs Rising. Exports Falling. Gold Dwindling. Output Lessening." What will Hitler do in 1939? There is not a nation fn the world that would attack Germany, or want to, yet she maintains the greatest armed strength of all time. She has no wealth but -spends countless millions to defend it. Then the inference is obvious. Germany's might i s ' for attack. Why blink at the truth ? But the truth is not so simple as that. German arms are for threat of force rather than the use ol it. It is a dangerously narrow morgin, but nevertheless it exists. Finally thpro is one factor that is constantly ignored. Hitler loves Germany with a fanatical, parental, almost maternal, love. To characterise him as a mero gangster or warmonger {g to ignore one of the most complex and remarkable characters of all time. Il e missed his great opportunities after Munich, when by benevojence and chivalry he could have assumed the leadership of a, new and peaceful Europe. Perhaps if ho had heeri alone or advised by men of more vision he might havo taken that course. America re- j mained silent when the September crisis was developing. 'She left Mi- Ohamborfa,in to represent alone the broken front of the democracies. But when the German genius for stupidity and cnielty hroughl aliout the last pogrom against the Jews. America, was swept, by ;i revulsion that nothing could control. The 'influence of Mr Roosevelt this year will be enormous and probably decisive. At

last Washington has learned that i humanity lias no frontiers. And Franco ? I The powers of recuperation in the Kepublic on the Seine are unequalled ' in any other country. From tho dregs of her revolution she became the greatest Power in Europe. From the disaster of -1870 she became the giantjthat withstood tlie German onrush inT9l4. From the corruption and 'disintegration of tho last two years she will build a strong and resolute nation again. Then what of Russia ? She remains tho unknown country, the imponde-ablo equation. It was from her that the curse of Communistic total tarianisni spread over -Europe until checked by Fascist totalitarianism. As a military Power she threatens no one. In diplomacy her manners are exemplary. She can say with hones.y lat sue has broken no treaties for a .iung time and threatened no neighbour. But is she waiting to infect Europe once more when the feuds of today have worn down the resistance of that unhappy continent? The secret of Russia is still a mystery —• perhaps oven to the prisoner in the Kremlin. Is Russia a nation or a condition of mind ? That is the question for 1939. So we come to Great Britain and her Empire, on whose troubles the. sun never sets. *Our responsibility is enormous. London is the heart of the Western world, and there is no question but that it has been missing a beat now and then. If we rouse ourselves to a great and sustained effort then the heart will bo stronger than ever. There will bo plenty of alarums and excursions in the next 12 months—and some of them pretty soon—but when *ve sum upl 12 months hence we shall do so in a world that is happier, saner, more prosperous and more peaceful than _it has been for a long time.