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THE CHINA MAIL, MARCH 14, 1941.
CHINA MAIL
·-WINDSOR · HOUSE
*་
IN THE TOILS
It seems unlikely now that a German attempt to invade Greece will much longer be delayed. The desperate Italian counter-offensive on the central front coinciding| with the presence in Al- bania of Signor Mussolini! himself, suggests a final effort by Il Duce to restore his position and prestige! without Nazi assistance. The complete failure of the attack, bringing to the Italians nothing but ghastly toll of casualties, puts Mussolini more com- pletely into the hands of Herr Hitler, and as the Greeks have declined to respond as it was hoped they would respond, to| the Nazi war of nerves, the bluff of Germany in planting troops on the Bulgarian-Grecian front- ier is called.
a
There is, nevertheless, ground for the belief that Hitler is far too late. He may succeed the issue has not yet been put to the test in overrunning Greece, but nothing now can restore Italy's pres- tige. Mussolini can never resume the status of partner in a victorious al- liance. Events have caught up with the fable of Axis invincibility and Italy is now no more than a partner reduced to the level of a defeated France.
"MAGNA CARTA FOR WORLD FREEDOMS
FREEDOM
SECURITY
背景
Lend and Lease Act
TOLERANCE
What HAVE We Done To Deserve This?
لم
Encourage The
Conquered
On any showing, it is clear that
Mussolini has been deait two vital
blows in Albania and Africa. And the degree to which his regine is
By
a personal one, weak in its toun- Harold J. Laski
dations, dependent for its endur- ance upon continued success, is shown by the results of those Nine months after en-blows. First. he diem Ms the tering a war which seem-chiefs of the fighting services: the
blame for failure must rest any
IS
a decisive blow in the main cam-
On the more moderate estimate, think it is safe
trying to arrest disaster.
until it begins, say this spring, to be clear to his own people. This period in my own view, is the vital period of the war.
But preparation for it is urgent. The more We can hammer at Mussolini, the more we can un- dermine his regime, the more we shall arouse hopes of libera-
ΠΟΙ in Czechoslovakia,
**new
to say two tion in the conquered countries of ed to be all over, except where but upon Mussolin him things. The Italiam defeats in Europe; and the more we arouse for the division of the ser
Then his journalistic thugs, Europe and Africa, combined with these, the more difficult will be Gayda and spoils, Mussolini, by ablame the defeatist spirit of un-
Farinacei, begin to the growing revelations of British the task of their occupation. Sul- strength, compe an Axis reassess.len acquiesence can very quickly what persons for strange paradox, is now armed
ment of its whole position, Because become active opposition once it crisis in the regime itself. It is Dictators live by prestige, some is given the material of hope; and in about the same rela-
typical that they should ask for a striking measure will have to be it is important that neither in tion to Hitler as Marshal purge. A dictator can never seek | concerted for its revival.
If it is Poland rational causes for Petain or General Anton-
aure; he attempted, it will have to be-un- neither in Holland nor in Norway, must always attempt to blot dertaken by Hitler, since all Mus- has the
European order" escu.
out by revenge.
solini's energies are absorbed in made any psychological headway On this These brave people remain the Bulgaria, Italy and
It is too) early to regard the basis, his reduction to the posi- basis of revolt against him once France are to-day all pri- combination of these victories as
tion of a very junior partner in the possibilities of success appear the Axis is certain; for everyone actual; and nothing will do more organisation for those soners of Germany's con-
knows that Hitler never gives to make paign. We must not judge until
effective than the quest of the Continent. we
something for nothing. And the possibilities estinate Hitler
is compelled to news that the legend of Axis in- the necessity of more Mussolini Despite Il Duce's appeal places
Mussolini's survivāl what steps,
take, the greater will be his un- fallibility has been shattered. to the Italians, urging therefore, he is prepared to popularity with his own people. that it will all come right in his support. in the end, the debacle in Africa and the ineptitude in Albania shatter hope that, whatever final result, Italy stands to gain anything out of the war.
see
what
upon
fate
Page T
Now For Victory
A tremendous charge has com? cv Britain, it has become lad of smiling faces. That strain- ed look which is the sort of "morning after" sign of « night f air raids, has gene. No longer do you hear the people talk of their porbs as they go to their work, or of the prospects of the night. as they go home in the evening. The talk now is of victory. Bri- tain is walking out of the valley of the shadow of death into the dawn of a new day. Hope has given way to complete confidence There is no doubt about the end now, ir, the minds of any teen..
11 you want to measure the real determination of the people, the place to see is In one of the bombed towns. There you sudden - ly realise the quality that mai the British Empe-builders, T harder you hit them. the toughe they become. You seel when you
By John Gordon
meet them as the King felt when talking to a mari at 13:1stol, es the rubble heap that only a fe hours before had been that man's home, he suddenly raid to "Give me your hand. I glory r your pluck."
The women are just as marvel- lous as the men. On the same day, standing on the top of a nearby
heap
of ruins, which had also been a happy home, the King met and talked to a young woman, who had a nine weeks' old baby her That woman, in her arms. baby and three other children had been standing under the stairs of their home, when a bomb causent the complete collapse of the house. They were all dug out.
You might think that the shock
un- would have upset her, that xiety and the loss of her home would have depressed her. Not at all. When she stood talking to the King on the heap of ruins, she was us happy and cheerful as if the King had come to pay her a peace-time visit.
The effect of the King's visits to these bombed towns has been one of the most amazing things of the war. As soon as he arrives the flags come out and cheering crowds press round him. He goes through the town with no ceremony what- ever, with no guards except a few air raid workers and a police- man. People press 1ound him ant shake his hand. They discuss their losses and they share their con- fidences with him. He has done a tremendous job without fuss, and without sparing himself. He has
become one with his people, in a way that would never have been possible except for such a series
worth while. archy of disasters. He has made mon- when thrones are toppling he has made his more secure than ever, broad-based not on authority, but on the affection of his people.
In an age
An air raid brings all sorts of problems. One of them that seems to affect the sentimental British people much more than even he loss of their homes, is the bomb- ing out of their pet cats and dogs. A tremendous voluntary organi- sation works side by side with the Civil defence services to look after animals in air raids. It is the sort of organisation you can hardly imagine in any other coun-- try than Britain.
He has shown himself up at the It is the lesson that the more first real test of his efficiency. He just the 'great society, the more its foundations, has been defeated at a stage whet e unbreakable are:
It has been discovered that the Stil, the joint consequences of he held most of the main cards in and that just foundations dependi
difference between a dog and a these events are profound. The his-hands.
upon the recognition that all men
dog runs as far have an equal claim upon the cat is that the any prestige of the Axis potvers has)
Those away from the noise as he can They are the waned very seriously.
There is a real chance that-the common stock of welfare.
he Usually he runs until not only seen to be vulnerable, very existence of his regime may who realise this have in their get. it is inevitable that men should be. In jeopardy in the next few hands one of the supreme instru-drops exhausted. The cat, on the for a day compare the of Rumania, months; and. no doubt, the impactments of defence in the modern other hand, vanishes which accepted Axis protection, of his failure on Hitler's own posi-world. Those who can be accused then turns up again among s with that of Greece, which re- tion will be important. But I of failing to realise it lay them-ruins, Because of this homing in- jected it. It is inevitable also think we must beware of oxagselves.open_to_an attack which,stinct, five times as many cats as
-dogs-are-recovered-after-a-raid Developments, indeed, that there should be a re-assuss-gerating that impact, The German once its ethical and psychological
ment in Spain, in Yugoslavia, of dictatorship differs from the implications are grasped, may be For human beings the problem give added interest to the British power. Turkish confidence Italian first because it is supreme- of disastrous proportions. The of what to do when your house is recent conversations be- in Britain will be even
more ly well organised, and, second, masses in Germany went to Hitler destroyed is much more simple. Soviet Union because it has great victories to because he promised relief from All round the great towns now tween General Franco and strengthened. The
the recovery there are a ring of rest centres to may recover some of its courage its credit. I do not believe that unemployment and Mussolini and General too much of its policy has been these blows at Mussolini will be of their respect. He betrayed which homeless people, both Franco and Marshal Pe- motivated by a simple fear of gin yet to stimulate the latent them in the second; he gave them well-to-do and poor, are at once Axis, particularly German, forces of opposition' to Hitler in the first only at the price of slav- sent. They are given food, shelter tain. It is becoming more strength. I do not think it is even Germany. These have shown no ery and war. He made the and the opportunity to rest. Those last six years workers of Great Britain see that who can afford to do so, mostly and more obvious that too much to say that the effect on real signs in the
France will be considerable, and that they are effectively organis-his victory meant, their slavery, pass on to friends the next day. Italy, France and Spain- upon French North Africa pro-ed; and I am afraid it is unlikely and, for a period, they will accept Those who have neither friends Considerable upon the that they will find the momentum our "religion of inequality" rather who can help, nor money to help the partner, the conquer-found.
to the first because, at long last, thereof organisation until they are than yield
menace he themselves, are billetted cut. ed and the neutral-are are signs of an awakening in stimulated by the proof that Hit- symbolises. But they know as Here and there one finds dini- all in much the same boat. France from the stupor of defeat, ler can be defeated in a positive never before that they are the culties, as always they will be
victory; and they found, but they are few. Britein and a growing sense that its hopes sense. We here, of course, are architects of Ats
some stage, under some
of recovery depend on a British convinced that he has lost the will require social justice as their in fact is becoming not a nation leadership, they must all victory. Profound in the second Battle of Britain, and I think we price for it. The sooner we be- | but a family. If we can only sun- become obvious are entitled to our conviction, gin to build it, the sooner we shall tain this spirit in peace as well look in common for one because it will
that Vichy enormously over-But I do not feel that this will summon all Europe to the break-es in war, a new clinpter in world outlet--a way of escape. estimated, Italian power,
act as an anti-Hitler, dynamic. ing of the Fascist yoke.
| social history is opening.
...