1940-09-12 — Page 7

THE CHINA MAIL, SEPTEMBER 12, 1940

CHINA MAIL

WINDSOR HOUSE

DEAD LEAGUE

The League of Nations died peacefully on May 17| this year. Its decline be- gan when the great Pow- ers that controlled it tol- erated Japanese aggres sion in Manchuria; and its death sentence was pass- ed when the same Powers failed to enforce effective| sanctions. against Italy in her war on Abyssinia.

So says a writer with long first-hand experience of the League in an obitu- ary reference to the pass- ing of "one of humanity's noblest dreams."

The position now is that no meeting of the League| Council or Assembly is possible even if the mem- ber States insist on its convocation. The disband- ing of the staff of the Sec- retariat at Geneva has re- moved a potentially use- ful, if greatly weakened, instrument for undertak-

AMAZING HOW SMARTLY THESE JAPS

IMITATE OUR WESTERN' WAYS.....

Tappeasementi

(Copyright in All Countries.}

The German For

It is a pity that we haye not

trustworthy accounts of the popu-

ing the manifold tasks to had, and could not have, any be performed in the lar reception which Hitler was accorded the other day, on his sphere of international return to Berlin, after two months cooperation at the end of nine months of war. the present war.

at his general headquarters and

should take place.

Jubilation

when the First Empire was at its zenith.

That

the was in 1807, when pence of Tilsit seemed to have established Napoleon as the mes- ter of Europe. He had defeated in quick succession the three, great- military Powers of the Continent, Austria, Prussia and Russia. Yet

no

We do know that there was a display of boundless enthusiasm, spirit of unrelieved and undis-jed the downfall of France, to issue the French nation was in Who killed the League with bells ringing and crowds guisable depression in which, we his remarkable proclamation pre-triumphant temper. Each victory cheering; but we know it not be-know, the German people entered scribing to "my people" the exact brought new evidence of the las- of Nations? The respon-cause the official German news upon the war.

amount of bell-ringing and flag-situde and war-weariness of flying with which they were to public opinion, sibility for its decline and agency made the statement, but

because we had already read the There was at the time, it may give expression to their joy? fall rests largely with text of Dr. Goebbels's proclama-be remembered, plentiful evidence

In the days when the Republic tion ordering that this manifes-from neutral sources of a feeling! "I order flags to be flown was being saved and its frontiers those who disregarded its ration of immense gratitude" throughout Germany for which throughout the Reich for 10 days made secure, French enthusiasm "discontent" was a very mild Covenant and who were

term: evidence 'borne out by the seven days."

and church bells to be rung for had been unbounded at the news of each success. A change began, There are in the world no such

however, when it had become for swayed, not by a desire

expert organisers of this sort of

the Emperor a question of domi- The ringing of joy-bells by ornating all Europe. better thing as the Nazi leaders, and (Goebbels, we may be sure, was

der for a stated period is highly |characteristic of the Nazi way off

Even when the tidings of Jena, Jooking at human affairs. It can one of the most extraordinary be readily understood that there military feats in history, came to are reasons why spontaneity in Paris, it "hardly stirred a ripple this form of rejoicing was not to in the pool"-the words are those be expected.

for a new and

world order, but by an-well able to see to it that his in-

xiety to

preserve the

structions were carried out.

Not Waiting For

End Of The War

·By- E.C. BENTLEY

status quo. The final breakdown and dispersal of the League machinery Even so, if "eries of joy from steps taken, soon after the war

In addition to the chronic con- of under-nourishment. are attributed to "lack of 100,000 throats" were uttered in began, to strengthen greatly the ditions

accordance with his prediction, it already enormous police forces of over-strain and brutal misgovern- foresight, vision, courage does not seem an imposing propor- the country.

ment, the German people arc afflicted by certain memories. and, perhaps, a few hun-tion of the 4,300,000 given as the population of. Berlin at the last dred pounds." The deplor-census. No one knows how many

Shattering Of Past are genuinely well- able spirit of timidity and Berliners

affected to the Nazi regime: but

Illusions

No Evidence Of Genuine Delight

Sir Nevile Henderson, in his

recorded

of one of the greatest of modern historians, the late H. A. L. Fisher.

was the conquest of Hitler.

Napoleon's France Was Prosperous

Talleyrand said to Tsar Alex- ander, "The Rhine, the Alps and the Pyrenees were the conquests vacillation that generally one would suppose it to be much

of the French nation; the rest is the conquest of Napoleon." Per- characterised the Geneva larger than the figure mentioned,

and it may be that the Minister historic report, writing of his last

„They remember how they were thaps some German diplomat will atmosphere may be trac-for Propaganda had slipped, for day in the capital,

his impression that the mass of single enemy bomb will drop on

assured by Goering that "not alone day be heard to say that the Rhineland, Austria and the Sude- ed to the fact that inter-once, into an underestimate.

the people were "horror-struck at German soll, how they were told tenland were the conquests of the "national affairs were for However, the Fuehrer has had the whole idea of the war which that Britain would never go to German nation, and that the rest

In earlier times it was being thrust upon them." In

Poland; how war over

it was the most part handled by his triumph.

umph until the end of a war; but people and everyone seemed com-

year after year, that Bolshevism imagination and with an mass-enthusiasm has always been pletely apathetic."

was the enemy, and how Hitler detect a resemblance between the the breath of his nostrils, and this

insisted constantly, throughout his moral conditions in France then instinctive fear of taking occasion could not be allowed to His departure next day from publie career, that Germany must and Germany: now. Napoleon's

in Besides, there may neverthe Embassy

conquests certainly took the expand eastward at the exponse time; but they were regarded then as miracles of rapid notion. Every- - thing in those days took more They have a more recent mem-time, and much more. One tragic result was as well as to that of the hero.ward Goschen quitted It was

||avutchet (by Ma

ory of how they were told that small crowd,"

the British Army in Northern af, moreover, there is anything that the League would

whom Sir Novile describes Whether the enthusiasm - - was

as France was surrounded, and that in the parallel which I am sug- never take small risks to heart-felt or otherwise, and whe- "absolutely silent,"

nothing could save it, and how gesting, there is another con- they were given the gind news sideration to be borne in mind. avoid much greater danther it did or did not represent

an emotion widely shared in Ber-Is the reception of Hitler in the that the entire French Navy Wus France at the time I speak of, for gers.

It became among in and in Germany at large, it capital, for what it is worth to to be brought under German con- all her uneasiness, was prosperous other things. "a screen was at least a change from the be taken as indicating a change tro

of heart in the people at › large?] for ulterior aims" and "la

There is nothing to suggest` thut it is so.

second-rate men without has been usual to postpone a tri-the main streets there were "few{dinned into them day after day I do not think it is fanciful to

1914

the responsibility for a pass.

be another a thought which may windows of the British Embassy of Russia.. decisive course of action.well have been present to the wore broken by a howl- minds of many of the manifestants ing mob before Sir Ed-

dustbin for diplomatically Jost causes.""

►

"!

our in other centres of German life. when

more

and well-governed under the rule, of u supreme genius of vivil ad There has been, naturally, much ministration at least as great in drawing of comparisons in this that as he was in the business of also perish for lack of in- We have heard of no outbursts country lately between the altua war. Germany to-day is an econo spired and courageous of unorganised popular rejoicing tion of today and that of the time mie ruin; her Government is the country was last most barbarous and dobasing It is the universal hope leadership. Meanwhile, all yet if easy conquest could im-menaced with invasion. There are known in modern times. at present that, if there is that is left of the old Lea- prove the national spirits, there few, if any, points of real simi-

has been plenty of that stimulant larity; but it has occurred to me The difference is not, I think. to be a new League after gue is its impressive mat- in the past two months. Why was that a comparison might be drawn, one that tells in favour of there Hitler's war, it will noterial shell a palatial it necessary for Hitler, after the os regards the state of public, being real enthusiasm in the pub- signing of the Franco-Italian feeling, between the Germany of lic reception of Hitler on his Te- cost over a million pounds. building at Geneva which armistice, which had doubly-scal- to-day and the France of the time turn to Berlin,