EUROPE’S DISEASE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 265, 6 October 1933, Page 6

EUROPE’S DISEASE

“STARK CYNICISM PREVAILS.”/

LEGACIES OF A 7 ERSAILLES.

“America’s great lesson to Europe is the example of peace and demilitarised frontiers on the Canadian border. There is a big trustfulness and charity which is non-existent in Europe,” declared Mr F. Milner, C.M.G., in an address under the auspices of the Rotary Club a.t Palmerston North, last evening, when, in a mental survey of the political condition of the world, he said he found little room for hope. He wondered whether there was any stability to be found except in the British Empire and the great Republic of America. “It is said that democracy has failed,” he added. “America is showing that democracy has a way. with constitutional safeguards, to direct and positive action. President Roosevelt has intimated that he is prepared to co-operate in a survey of the danger points of the world and participate in action to prevent any nation from running amok. He has applied a cold douche to the Samurai Party in Japan and also to Herr Hitler, who is adopting the role of Ivaiser-like attitudinism on the world’s stage, rattling the sabre and speaking in jingoistic terms.

“America is prepared to waive her doctrine of freedom of the seas to the extent of acquiescing under the League Covenant, for a blockade of a recalcitrant power talcing advantage of any European move for disarmament. “Europe is suffering from the disease of frantic and hectic internationalism. Scandinavia and other smaller countries have not the power to vindicate their ideals. France cannot, though she does hope to, stereotype on a crippled Europe the Treaty of Arersailles for all time. It is stark cynicism. Europe is throbbing with the armament business intrigues, jingoism, and the cries of war-mongers. ITALY AND GERMANY.

“Germans and Hitler are the logical child of the cynicism of Clemenceau and Poincare. No more nouseating spectacle has ever been provided in civilisation. Italy is under the vacillations of Mussolini and an ephemeral dictatorship which has no claim to continuity and is maintained by extensive militarism. The nations of Europe are gazing with suspicion, and hatred at one another. Sovietism has the breakdown of the Five Year Plan and is distributing virulent propaganda. Then there is the megalomania of Japan, with an implied menace to the peace of the Pacific. THE EMPIRE ENTENTE. “Still,” concluded Mr Milner, “the British Empire remains a spiritual entente of autonomous communities in allegiance to the Throne. There are no ties. They have all been swept away by the Statute of AVestminster. If we pooled our moral and material resources with America we could dominate, or to use a more appropriate term, stabilise, the world. The Eng-lish-speaking people in these two great countries are the trustees for that stability. They should deny credits and loans to bellicose countries and repress militaristic peoples.” AVith a poignant word-picture of what another war would mean, and the unparalleled crisis which it would precipitate, Mr Milner closed his message of appeal to commonsense and sanity.