THE CHINA MAIL FRIDAY SUPPLEMENT, AUGUST 30, 1940.
Bogey Of Nazi Efficiency
They have, in the third place, the tremendous advantage of tradition in our civilisation which
a
than
By Bjarne Braatoy
ENGLAND'S MOTTO
CITIZENS of free nations suffer of territorial domination.. Criticism nomic responsibilities entailed from a number of disadvant-has, been liable to attract more when Czechoslovakia was brought} ages when they look upon the attention
any record of within the Nazi orbit by the Dik evolution and achievements of achievements, particularly because tat of Munich in September, 1998, nations governed by dictators. in real life, there is no such thing and by the invasion in March, In the first place the latter are as final achievement. Every new 1939. But the outside world only the foreign nations. It is notoriously stage in the evolution of our civil- got meagre information on impossible for citizens of one na-isation creates its own, new pro- manner in which these territorial THE collapse of France and the clearly. The old Pan-German tional community to get a real blems. In the circumstances, the gains in reality depleted the re-
decision of the Bordeaux Gov- doctrine has been adopted with- grasp of the run of affairs in an- age-old bellef in the fundamental sources of Nazi Germany, taken other nation.
value of territory still governs as a whole, and the legend of Nazi ernment have brought with them out restriction by the present Gor In the second place a dictator-bur appreciation of dictatorial emciency therefore remained un-a whole series of political and man Government, which is om- ship always extends its monopoly efficiency.
challenged. control of affairs beyond its own The outside world had no op-
economic consequences requiring ploying every military strategem The burdens of the Second immediate attention. As regards it possesses to impose German borders. Information disagreeable portunity to consider the matter Great War has made it still more to the dictators may leak out, but for the first three years of the difficult to grasp the fact that their implication for the world hegemony on Europe. But though they nevertheless control the
every new Nazi conquest has add- at large, it is impossible to gauge the British people are fully alive shape of things and have during
ed to the strain of existence for the international results, so into the portentous implications of the last ten years imposed their
the citizens of the Third Reich.
calculable conceptions on the contemporary
are they. But one such a policy of conquest, they By way of normal trade indepen- mind.
dent Poland yielded more to Ger- fact as least has emerged as a perceive equally clearly what is many than can possibly be gain- certainty. The last trace of in-the mental formation which can ed from what is left of occupied sularity vanished from the out-and does act as the inspiration Poland, particularly in view of gives pride of place to the hold- Hitler regime. The problem of surrendering old links with Lith-moment when the people of the domination.
the price Germany had to pay in look of the British nation in that of those plans of destruction and Ing of land. They are in apparent- Nazi efficiency did not really con- uania, Latvia, Estonia and Fin- British Isles ly undisputed control of their own front the world, even when
found themselves the land. territories. This control is as-Nazi troops marched into the de-
The gravity of the military sumed to produce a yield corres-militarised parts of the Rhineland ficant stocks looted during
alone in the conflict against Ger- Apart from relatively insigni-
situation is fully appreciated, but ponding with that of territories in March 1936.
and Italy. The people of the many
the instinct of the British people under a free system of govern-
For all practical first stages of the invasion of Den-Great Britain are fully convinced ment.
tells them that it is in the mental If they extend their ter-ready a working part of the Ger- mark and Norway, these two that something even higher than formation of the people of Ger- ritories, it is also assumned that
countries are dead losses to the the new territories are as fruitfulman economy.
German economy.
the defence of their country is A by-product)
many that the real danger Iles. under a dictatorship as they were And, since the stroke of March, of this invasion is the economic now at stake. They realise that For the danger, the essential dan- 1938, brought Austria into the isolation of Sweden and Finland, they are called upon to defend the The free nations suffer by Third Reich, events have moved in consequence of which German last strong-hold
the
ger, is not really a military one: comparison because their govern-at such a pace that the outside trade in the Baltic is a shadow of liberties in Europe. The battle in German Government has set out .of democratic it is a spiritual one. What the ments have no monopoly control world has not been able to con- its former self. Holland and Bel- of affairs, not even in wartime. sider the implications of Nazi eff-gium have simply added devastat- which the people of Great Britain to achieve is nothing less They are no longer bent on the ciency for the Germans themsel-ed regions to the Nazi dominion, are
the enslavement of the human ΠΟ engaged is
3 longer It was not generally realis None of the above territories can national war against a powerfully thought to the dictates of acquisition of territory. On
the ves.
conscience by subjecting human contrary, where democracy reigns ed that the Nazi coup in Austria produce more than a fraction of the great Empires are going thr- did not rescue the
centres that their former
wealth in coopera-equipped aggressor. It is a crus-Gestapo. The leaders of Germany ough a process of devolution, had been impoverished by thel tion with Nazi Germany alone.. ade against the spirit of Evil. aim at the complete destruction which rubs the territorial gains dismemberment of the Austro- Whatever the fate of the forces,
of that liberty which is synony- of bygone days of their tradi-Hungarian Empire. The contem- opposing Nazi domination, the Events of the past months, and mous with Western civilisation. porary mind did not register the idea of Nazi efficiency is there-especially of the last few weeks; That is the menace which looms Understanding of this develop-fact that further 'impoverishment fore demonstrably a myth in re-have, supplied a convincing de- over the whole world to-day.
comparison between conditions of monstration of the terrible effl- If, then, we were to try and world has suffered from the luck There were responsible people life, in the most comprehensive cacy of mechanised force, when analyse the feelings of the people of a unifying conception which in Germany who realised the lia- sense of the term, inside and out- such force is ruthlessly employed of Great Britain at this tremend- would symbolise the new age of bilities incurred by the Anschluss side Nazi Germany would show by a militarised regime. Coupled tory, we should
ous moment in the world's his- Tree cooperation between the and who expressed despair at the that by any standards it is a myth| peoples as against the old world'increased administrative and eco-'for the Germans' themselves. with superiority in effectives, it conclusions predominating
before.
purposes the
Rhineland was al-
tional meaning
ment has not grown apace with was the consequence, not only for gard to the outside world, A the process itself. The civilised) Austria but for Germany itself.
makes of human heroism a thing
of no avail, so long as heroic re sistance is not equipped with mechanised armaments of suff- cient strength to assure equality of fighting conditions. There is little doubt that the conception of the human value of the individual. which is the essence of democracy, has contributed to create a con-
Refreshing!
BREWERY
LIMITED
UB)
SHANGHAI
U.B.
BEER LIGHT OR DARK
By
than
the
be led to two
all
Robert Mackay
tempt for brute force in the Euro- other considerations. First of all, pean democracies. Unfortunately, the whole British nation is firmly such force has shown its prepon- resolved to smash German aggres- derance, when mechanised and sion, and it is fortifled in that re- placed in the hands of a nation solve by the conviction that it is which, by tradition, is willing, to chiefly against Great Britain that make every sacrifice for its war that aggression has always been machine.
directed. But we should also find -and this is the second conclu-
In the democracies, the civilis-slon-that in resisting aggression- ed conception of life had already with its traditional tenacity, the advanced far beyond the cult of British people feels it is discharg- force and the love of militarism. ing a mission which is on an even Intellectual life, literature: and higher plane than the perform- the arts, social and political re-ance of a patriotic duty.
forms, and the application of
science to the advancement of the At this stage of the struggle, individual and the welfare of the England is fully conscious of the community had become matters part she is called upon to play. of such absorbing interest for free As the paladin of democratle peoples that the citizen paid but ideals and the pioneer in spread... scanty attention to military pre-ing the expression of free opinion paredness. All this, in spite of by parliamentary institutions, the fact that the democracies were England defends the sacred rights faced by a power which had never of the whole human race when failed to proclaim its love of she defends herself.. In her gig- militarism and had for many antic-task she has the immense years actively adopted a power economic resources of the world policy. Now the disillusion has on which to draw, and she is as- come. The lesson of experience sured of that ability by British is always a bitter one for those sea power. She has the whole- who have neglected the teachings hearted support of all the coun- of history. But the tragic events tries of the British Commonwealth' of the past few days have, at any and can make that support effec- rate, served to destroy any illu- tive through her sea power. sions that may have remained re- Unlike the German war, machine, garding the intentions of Ger- British sea power is still the sure many.
warden of the liberty and pros- perity of all nations. But, the The Government of the Reich passage of the German war mach- no longer concculs its Intentions.ing leaves behind it a frail of Thore is no longer any pretence misery and famine, of terror and of repairing the Injustice" of Ver-of death. In every land conquer- sailles. Nor is there any furthered, by the mechanised forces of question of assuring to Germany the Reich the seed of poverty is lis Labensraum that vital space sown. The regime of force is the which it so passionately claimed regime of the gallows and the as the legitimate' right of Gertorture chamber. man 'minorities' damiciled outside
the frontiers of the Reich, Tho Justice will be done one day.'. objectives of the Governments of History will once more repeat it-›. Berlin and Rome are nothing less self. But there is nothing passive that the acquisition of immense in England's attitude to the course. torritories by force of arms or by of events. The British people are threat. By fire and sword they profoundly convinced of
the are proceeding to effect the on- necessity to act with all their slavement of „millions, of human strength; in order to bring nearer beings in every country in Europe the now dawn of liberty, The Bri- all this as the prelude to atillitish people will never lose heart vaster wards of conquest in other in this tremendous struggle : for continents, as soon as their plans the defence of human rights. And- of domination in Europe have been in this terrible battle against the fulfilled.
powers of Evil the British nation knows that it can count on the Thore is no longer any room moral support and the material: for doubt as to their designs, now aid of all free peoples. It draws that so many of them have al- comfort and inspiration from that ready been carried out, In. Great assurunde. To fight, without way- | Britain, at any rate, there is nòtering, against the oppressors of middel'a single person who does not seol nations -- that is England's motto,
Sole Agents: W. R. LOXLEY & CO. (China), LTD.