To the Editor of the "Norta-Curxa Dany News"
Sin—Now that the long summer evenings are here one has lots of opportunity to play a game of Bridge. Tt-ought to be a restful and pleasant way of spending one's time, but very often, is just the reverse. I am considered, on the average, a good player, and am extremely fond of fudge. No one, however, is infal-@lible, not even the smartest exponents of the game, I make a mistake oc-OG
Sm,—Bearing on today's editorial (regarding Czechoslovakia) and some of your recent pronouncements, the following extract from Chapter 6 of Genevieve Tabouis' book bearing the title "Blackmail or War" may be of interest.
Likewise, in view of the forthcoming meeting of the Spanish Non-Intervention Committee further point is added to her analysis.
It should be pointed out that the authoress is Diplomatic Editor of "L'Guvre." Paris, and her book was completed January last Sufficient emphasis cannot be placed on the last sentence of this ex tract:
On the 15th of August, 1936 Great Britain and France reached a final Agreement to associate themselves with the cause of non-intervention. They decided to close their frontiers to all consignments of arms and munitions. As a result of their determined attitude, Germany and Italy identify themselves in pr ple with this policy of non-intervention. While this arrangement averted the immediate possibility of a general catastrophe, the d whack to it was that it looked like a victory for tne Berlin-Rome axis resulting from the German and Talian policy of black-mall based upon a threat of general war. The League experts were quick to see the disastrous effect which this would: have on international affairs.
meant that from then onwards the slightest. threat of war, would Cause the "nations concerned selfishly "with their own security, to appeal to ihe doctrine of non-intervention as a means for evading or delaying the fulfilment of the obligations contained in the Covenant of the League. Henceforward, through fear of being regards a war-monger, everyone, though bound" by commercial treaties, will retrain from furnishing arms toa country unjustly attacked. Once more force revealed, itself as ihe supreme factor in the World. It is interesting to note that as early as the Congress at Vienna Talleyrand referred to non intervention as "a diplomatic term of unknown meaning."
The effects of this new state of affairs soon made themselves felt. The war in Spain continued and still continues, the war in China broke out with" unprecedented violence, and Japan, disguising her aggression as a mere" domestic. operation on "the part of her police force, has informed Great Britain, France and U.S.A. that reprisals will be carried out against the goods and interests of these countries in the Far East if they render any. assistance whatever to the Chinese Republic, When the Nazis try, and for all, that ill-fated country will find itself' unable to purchase the arms to protect its independence.
Czechoslovakia would be in a similar plight. Such acts of aggression would be explained away as ures coming within the scope of internal policy." This attitude may well recoil one day against Great Brilaig) and France who, after all, dunny the Great War owed their salvation to supplies of American armainen Jack Cape.
Shanghai, June 14.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.