Dismal European

Outlook

THE Pacific countries, to a degree greater than ever before in their history, are affected by the interna tional position; and, in recent weeks, the international position has seriously deteriorated.

The Munich Agreement, made at the beginning of October, was nothing ex cept an expression of mutual good feel ing between Britain, Germany, France and Italy. Britain and France agreed that Germany should dismember Czecho-Slovakia; France renounced her valuable defensive treaties with Russia and the Little Entente; and, in return, Germany and Italy were to promote good relations with Britain and France.

British public opinion, in October, moved immediately and definitely to wards friendship with Germany, and a policy of transferring large areas of col onial territory to Germany for admin istration and development. The whole western world acclaimed Munich. But, as we pointed out in October, every thing depended upon the good faith of an uncertain person named Adolf Hitler.

Then a hysterical Jewish boy in Paris, crazed by sufferings inflicted on his re lations in Austria by the Nazis, murder ed a German high official. Germany immediately began to persecute all Jews within her borders, in the most horrible manner. The pogroms (which continue)

have killed Britain’s growing friendship for Germany. The cruelties were bad enough: but (all Anglo-Saxon people are asking) how can we have faith in the word of a nation which in a time of psychological crisis, acts so madly, and with such utter lack of self-restraint.

To-day, the Nazi-led newspapers of Germany are screaming abuse at Brit ain; Germany is getting ready to seize further territory on her eastern frontier (probably Memel); Italy has made a sudden, noisy and blustering demand upon France for Corsica and Tunisia; Germany and Italy have entered, provis ionally, into a Triple Alliance with Jap an, which directly threatens the Pacific territories. Japan’s attitude is menacing.

Britain, practically, has abandoned hope of reaching any peaceful under standing with the dictators. She real ises that she might just as well try to make agreements with mad dogs. They promise peace to-day—howl for war to morrow. So Britain and France, while still trying to keep the peace, are pre paring grimly for war, and with all speed. As time passes, there seems a greater likelihood of the United States joining with Britain and France, in an attempt to save humankind from the ruthless, trampling hordes of Germany, Italy and Japan.

There is one ray of hope. There are increasing reports of a growing move ment in Germany, led by the intelligent sia, against Hitler and his Nazis. In ternal unrest may curb these people. If

not, they surely will plunge Europe into war. Neither Britain nor France wants to fight the Totalitarian States; but, if it is to be war, the noisy claquers of Germany and Italy are due for some very unpleasant surprises.