1940-09-18 — Page 7

THE CHINA MAIL, SEPTEMBER 18, 1940.

CHINA MAIL

WINDSOR HOUSE

HAZARDS OF NEUTRALITY

One of the casualties of the war has been the con- cept of neutrality. Great Britain has just protested against the flagrantly un- neutral decision of the Swedish Government to permit the transit from Germany through Sweden of men and supplies for the German forces in Nor- way-a decision which, had it been taken earlier, might well have modified the readiness of the Bri-| tish Government to allow the passage to Sweden of four ships acquired in Italy by the Royal Swe- dish Navy. No official re- ply has yet been returned to the British protest. But the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs provided an explanation when he grimly remarked in a public speech that Swe- den could not afford to "disregard developments which had entailed the occupation of seven coun- tries." Point has since been given to this remark

Wan

RESERVED

FOR AN EXPRESS1074 8T

OUR RECONSTRUCTION ALTERNATIVE T HITLERISM

DEMOCRACY

LIBERTY

IN EUROPE

"WHAT, NO STATUE?

"NOT YET—BUT WE'VE GOT

A DARNED GOOD PEDESTAL·

(Copyright in All Countries.)

Economic Gains from Conquest

side of Russia.

for otherwise the destruction of livestock can only magnify his [future difficulties, which will be

big enough in any case.

by a reported announce-] As a result of his victories dur- ing the past months Hitler ment by the Nazi prophet, is now master over practically the Dr. Rosenberg, of a Ger-whole Continent of Europe this man plan to establish al protectorate over the In Denmark, Norway, Holland,

The inescapable fact which con- Belgium, Luxembourg and two-

fronts him is that none of the five three Scandinavian coun-thirds of France his control is

countries occupied Denmark, is absolute; Italy tries.

transformed

Norway, Holland, Belgium, and from a non-belligerent into any

France is self-sufficient in food from. the rest of The rules of neutrality actively belligerent ally; Sweden, world,

the his new territories, though he will, and feeding-stuffs. They are all of is almost complete-it is true, be able now to draw on them almost entirely dependent elaborated by the zeal of cut off politically and economically at his mercy; the countries of Spain's supplies of copper.

the Danube and the Balkans are; international lawyers and ed the people of the Unit-more than ever exposed to Axis the practice of States ed States of America to domination; and Germany has were tolerably well ob-be neutral in thought as Iberian Peninsula across occupied served in the spacious well as in deed. In 1939 France.

acquired a land frontier with the

on non-Európëan sources for vegetable oils and oilseeds, wof which Needs Unrelieved

they imported between them in 1935. 2,830,000 tons. Slace the lack of these products is al- How much French, Dutch and ready one of the main weaknesses Belgian rallway rolling-stock he in Germany's food situation the- will have been able to divert to new territories constitute to this period of local and limit-President Franklin Roose- The other side of the picture is his own use it would be difficult extent an absolute dead-weight ed wars. The view that velt, expressed the almost that the whole coastline of Europe to say, but there must undoubted-burden.

'from the North Cape to thely be some. In view of the sadly neutrality was a safe, unanimous feeling of his Franco-Spanish border, together deteriorated condition of his own honourable, and profitable fellow-countrymen when blockade by the British Navy.

with Italy, is now subject to total railways any additions would Sub-Norma! Harvest

naturally be welcome. status survived until 1914. he declared that the Unit Great Britain has herself ed States could no longer been a neutral in the past; remain neutral in thought and in wars in which she or sympathy. The Ameri- feet, but it is a Europe hencefor- Europe is indeed at Hitler's has been engaged it has can Press and the utter-ward for all practical purposes been her policy and her ances of American public interest to uphold the men have become more neutrality of the smaller and more outspoken as

A Brief Catalogue

-By-

countries. But the pros-the struggle has assumed J.C. JOHNSTONE

pects of neutrality have a more desperate charac- been radically impaired ter; and the assistance

་

tarian war. Even between American people have thrown entirely on

with the rest of the world and All this has now ceased and disappear in other year, but one

kind of economic fare. This time the

It is, of course, true that two of Against his credit account in the countries concerned, Holland these various directions must beland Denmark, are normally large offset losses due to Italy's entry exporters of dairy produce and into the war.

bacon. But their exportable capa- ¡city is dependent on imported feeding-stuffs, from which, now Italy, as is well known, is and henceforward, they are total- targely dependent on imports for ly cut off. most of her principal raw mater Lals. As a non-belligerent she was Juble not only to fill current re- This year the harvest in all quirements but to build up stocks those countries is likely to be against her future (and pre-exceptionally sub-normal. In ad- meditated): belligerency and to dition to unfavourable weather act as smuggling agent for Ger- their agriculture has suffered by the coming of totali-"short of war" which the isolated from commercial contact

man contraband.

seriously from the ravages of war. Both these factors may, indeed,

1914 and 1918, the terri-rendered to the

its own re-when her stocks are exhausted that is almost certain to persist Allied sources. What, then, under these as they must be in a long war for the duration is the passive re- tory of European neutrals cause is a testimony more mic gain and loss accruing to Hit-dustries will become a heavy drain be unlikely to extract the maxi- conditions is the balance of econo-the maintenance of her war insistance of a peasantry who will became the battle-ground eloquent than words. Sov-ler's war effort from his vast ac-upon her Axis partner who, in mum yield from their soil for the of a new and intensified iet Russia has been in-cretions of territory?

the meantime, also loses the ad-benefit of the German oppressor. war-spired by a different con-

yantage of her smuggling activi-| To begin with the raw ties.

Hitler's Victims erception of neutrality. Off-of armaments production, materials one gain that is immense, and in- cial Soviet commentators disputable. In France and Luxem-as far as raw materials are con- in a long war his conquests, un- Altogether is may be said that In a word Hitler will find that taken no chances.

In have been at pains to ex-bourg he has secured almost an cerned. Hitler's recent conquests less he can extend them far into embarras de richesse in iron ore, have given him certain short-term Africa and into the Middle East, Europe neutrality has press their indifference to a vital material of which his de-advantages. They will steadily ceased to be a soft option the issues of what is, in iciency had previously caused him diminish as the war lengthens till have burdened him with a heavy

the gravest anxiety. It not longer they are

liability. It can be regarded as cer- for small States. Almost the Marxist view, a clash makes the smallest difference that balanced by Italy's needs. The tain that he will allow his subject everywhere it has become of rival imperialisms. Yet the winter route for Swedish ore only permanent gain and that populations no more than the the prerogative of strong the Soviet Government has got all he needs at his own the French iron org.

supplies via Narvik is closed; he admittedly an important oheis deed, there is already evidence barest subsistence, if even that. In-

or remote countries whom plainly does not believe doorstep "for the duration," dictators fear to attack or that a passive neutrality Another material of which he

What Of The Larder? cannot reach. Even the in such a combat accords obtains abundant supplies, also in neutrality of the strong with Russian interests. France, is bauxite, which is the Here, his position is much less

raw interfil of aluminium. favourable, for while he makes It is unfortunate for the victims has ceased to be a passive Even for the strong neu-Ironically enough this happens to considerable gains in the short-friendly peoples toward whom and impartial aloofness. trality has its hazards. be the one metal of which he al-run he is faced with the certainty we feel a natural sympathy--but of serious embarrassment in the nothing we can do will prevent It is no longer neutrality The vigorous displays of ady had plenty.)

long. By the ruthless pilinging of Hitler. from plundering them ex- proper, but “non-belliger- Soviet power during the But here the brief catalogue stocks and the wholesale slaugh- cept to clear him “out of their. ends. Copper, fin, nickel, tungsten, tering of animals in the occupied countries. Anything they may have ency." When War broke past few months have asbestos munggnese, rubber, and, territories he is achieving an im- to endure till we accomplish this out in 1914 President been designed as a pro-above all, petroleum all of these mediate replenishment of the purpose will be their contribution Woodrow Wilson exhort-tection against them. {not one of them la produced laldous" gamble on a swift victory,thraldom.

man General Staff

more

than counter-

We now turn to foodstuffs.

that he is reducing them to somi- starvation and trying to blame it on the "Inhuman · British block- ade.

essential materials, he lacks, and German larder. But it is a tremen- towards their own rescue from his