FRESH TENSION IN EUROPE

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20845, 1 July 1939, Page 6

FRESH TENSION IN EUROPE

Tension in Europe flows in waves, and each wave on receding leaves a fresh crop of armaments. And as the process continues, each wave becomes more dangerous. Again affairs seems to be reaching a crisis, and August and September are expected by leading opinion in the democratic countries to be months of strain. It was this feeling, no doubt, that led Britain in its reply to the German denunciation of the Naval Treaty to attempt to reason with Germany on the wider issue. M. Daladier, the French Prime Minister, and Mr Winston Churchill, among others, have expressed grave doubts about the early future, especially with regard to Danzig. Germany denies that she intends any aggressive action with regard to Danzig, and declares that she has only to wait for the Free City to fall into her lap through internal action. Nevertheless, experience has taught Britain and France that such protestations of peaceful intentions do not always mean what they say, and the Powers of the “peace front” are arming themselves with desperate haste so that they will not be caught napping. Such is the strength now arrayed against possible aggression by Germany and Italy that only desperate dictators would dare to risk war. Are they sufficiently confident of their own power to commit an act which they have been told plainly would lead to war *? No one is yet prepared to say that war is inevitable. It is indeed far from inevitable, and only a glimmering of common sense among those who have the power to declare for war or against it is necessary to make a peaceful solution possible. It is true that since Britain and France announced their irrevocable stand against further aggression there has been no forceful annexation of territory. Little more has been heard of Italy’s claims against France. Germany, while tightening her grip on recently absorbed territory, has threatened much but done little, apart from propaganda, outside her new boundaries. Is it too much to hope that Germany has realised that the way to further domination is too dangerous to attempt, even if she is not ready to agree to make an attractive contribution to the peace of the world 2