Anxious Humanity Awaits a Lead from the United

States

ON March 15, Hitler broke his promise and seized Czecho-Slovakia. Italy, not to be outdone, annexed Albania.

Within a few weeks, Britain, France, Poland and Turkey, all “good fighting nations”, had formed an alliance to re sist any further Axis aggression. Rou mania, Greece, Belgium and Portugal supported them. Britain and France in vited Russia to join the Anti-Aggression Pact. Russia temporised—and still is back ing and filling.

Germany, preparing to rush on east wards, over Poland, and south-east, into the Balkans and the Ukraine, paused.

Two million mobilised troops, in Germany and Italy, still are marching and counter marching, goose-stepping and Heiling Hitler; but they know, now, that if they try to grab any more independent nations, the democracies will fight.

Britain, France, Poland and Turkey could hold, and probably thrash, Ger many and Italy; but they would have neither time nor energy to spare for any campaign outside Europe.

Thus, there enters the picture Japan, unofficial partner in the Axis. Axis dinlo mats have persuaded Japan that if ‘she can eject Britain from the China coast, she yet can save herself from the military and economic disaster with which she is threatened in the Sino-Japanese War.

Japanese military chiefs, conceited and insolent people, have taken control of their Government, and deliberately are harassing and insulting Britain, trying to provoke war.

The plot is easy to read. If Britain avoids the Japanese challenge, she “loses face” in Asia, and then may be driven out of China. If she fights Japan, she will be so busy in Asia and the Pacific that she will not be able to maintain the Anti- Aggression Pact, and Germany and Italy then can get on with their plan of domin ating Europe. Either way, Britain may be weakened and so there may be brought nearer the day for which Germans, Italians and Japanese constantly pray— the day when they can dismember and loot the British Empire.

Britain is handling the situation with great skill. While patiently avoiding war, she is rapidly building up her armed strength—and waiting. Time is on the side

of the democracies. Hitler. Mussolini and the Japanese military clique—especially the latter —are gambling. The situation, from Britain’s viewpoint, cannot get worse; and it may soon get better.

If Japan advances far in Asia, she must fight Russia. If she would extend her dominions jn the Pacific, she must be challenged by the United States. She apparently hopes that if she can engage Britain in war, Germany can take care of Russia, and that America will remain neutral. This is gambling, indeed.

Britain and Russia yet may become al lied against the Axis group; but it appears increasingly unlikely. Russia hates Britain, “imperialist and capitalistic”, and hopes that Britain yet may weaken herself (and save Russia!) by undertaking the inevit able war with Japan. The British people— except the “long-haired Eden-Churchill group”—for their part are reluctant to ally themselves with “the bloody Reds of Moscow”. They would rather draw closer to Germany. In any event, the military value of the Russians can be over-esti mated. In a general war, the Germans probably would “clean them up” just as quickly as the French would “clean up” the Italians.

The key to the Pacific situation, and therefore to the world situation, is held by America. If the United States only would join with Britain in declaring for the maintenance of the status quo in the Pacific, and for the freedom of demo cratic institutions in the world, the threat of general war (and, with it, the almost certain destruction of civilisation as we know it to-day) would depart overnight.

The conclusion is inescapable that the democratic world, tortured by anxiety, is waiting for something—and that some thing is a definite lead by the United States.

Bishop Wolf, of the Catholic Mission at Alexishafen, New Guinea, celebrated the 25th anniversary of his consecration to the Episcopacy in June. Bishop Vesters, of the Vunapope mission, and Bishop Wade, of the North Solomon Islands, at tended the celebrations. The new Christ the King's cathedral erected by Bishop Wolf was consecrated at the same time.