If it can be sdid that in some of its phases the war is hanging fire,—and that is perhaps inevitable for some time to come,—there can be little doubt as to the activity of the spokesmen for the various warring countries over the air. For example, Lord Halifax, British Foreign Secretary, Mr. Winston Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty, and Dr. Joseph Goebbels, Reich Minister for Propaganda, broadcast over the week end. It has to be confessed that, with the exception of the latter, who, mirable dictu, appears for once to have told the truth, the speeches contained nothing new, and yet, collectively and individually, each of them is vested with some degree of importance. Lord Halifax made a point, which has all along been noticed by most observers, that it is easier for dictators to go to war, but that the democracies have the advantage when it comes to prosecuting one. With the first portion of that statement there must be the completest agreement. The comparative ease with which Herr Hitler threw his country into war, for the purpose of satisfying his and his accomplices' insatiable ambitions is the best proof of it, for, fully realizing what would be the consequences of doing so, he ordered the invasion of Poland, and thus brought about the entry of Great Britain and France into thei struggle. A great deal has been made of the fact that the Allies following this invasion made formal declarations of war, and, because of that, German spokesmen seek to evade responsibility for the tragedy which is toward in Europe. Germany has declared no war, from which it seems to follow in the intricate workings of the Nazi mind that it is not, therefore, at war, but is merely the victim of aggression. The picture of the personified Reich, with his hands dripping with the blood of Czechoslovakia and Poland,—countries which even now are undergoing the worst forms of brutal suppression,—endeavouring to persuade the world at large of his innocence can only arouse Homeric laughter amongst those pagan gods which some of the Nazi leaders claim to favour.
Lord Halifax emphasizes that the Reich had only one chance of winning the war, namely, by conducting a quick one. It has failed to do so, not because of any lack of desire on the part of Herr Hitler, but because of the realization by his military advisers of the danger which would be run in doing so. Austria, Czechoslovakia and Poland were easy meat. Great Britain and France present entirely different problems. It is contrary to the traditional policy of Great Britain to allow any one Power to gain predominance in Europe. It is that predominance of which Germany is in search, and, in accordance with historical precept, Great Britain has to check it, for no salvation of the British Empire is to be found by bartering the liberties of other nations. The manner in which smaller neutrals are being victimized by Germany is fully demonstrated by the attacks which are being made upon their undefended shipping. They are now the chief sufferers from the unrestricted submarine and mine warfare, which the Reich has initiated, and Mr. Winston Churchill has made a very sound point when he concludes that the lot of the small neutrals, lamentable as it already is, would be infinitely worse if at any, time the Allies were to tire of the war, and make a shameful peace. Nothing he says would remain for them but that their shipping and their possessions would be divided proportionally between the Nazis and the Bolsheviks. On the other hand the failure of the submarine menace against the convoy system has been so clearly demonstrated that the odds are 500 to 1 against a British-convoyed vessel coming to harm. If it is true in the theatrical world that only box-office receipts tell, so must it be in war that only results can give an accurate impression of how the war is proceeding. So far as the naval campaign is concerned the Allies have undoubtedly demonstrated their command of the situation. It is well known that Mr. Churchill possesses that great fighting quality of optimism in no small proportion, but it is on this occasion fully justi-fled by all that has happened.
The third broadcast was that of Dr. Goebbels. It is typical of the man and the Nazi mind. When sound argument is not available resort to abuse is indicated, and the English are pictured as ferocious wolves wearing the skins of lambs. The British wore large quantities of sheepskins when they helped to defeat Germany, and her allies over two decades ago, so perhaps the simile is not wholly inappropriate, but again governed by the fact that in that war too Germany was the aggressor. Unfortunately not a great deal of what Dr. Goebbels said is to hand, but what is clearly shown is that with one exception in the available account, the address was the usual tirade of vilification and lying. Thus he lies when he says "The British want to force us to a new Treaty of Versailles. They have already lined up with the Emperors and Kings they wish to restore." That of course is untrue. The last thing the Allies wish is another Versailles. In that would be found only the embryos of more trouble in the future. They do desire, however, that the peace of Europe shall not be continually menaced by men who deliberately planned for war, and commenced it directly they thought the times propitious. If any proof were wanted for that, it is to be found in the one truthful passage in the abbreviated report of his speech: "We have organized and prepared for this war to the last detail." There at last is the truthful admission of what the Allies realized when it was almost too late. 'The Reich organized, and prepared this war to the last detail, and they would not have done this, had they not determined in the long' run to resort to hostilities. Ultimate war, it is now revealed, was the sole motive which actuated the Nazis from the moment they came to power. By their machinations they have got it, and the Reich now finds itself enwrapped.in such toils that only the violation of the integrity of more small neutral nations offers them even the remotest chance of that victory for which they have planned, and schemed these last seven years. It may be that in making this admission Dr. Goebbels was carried away with the exuberance of his own verbosity, but the fact remains that the admission has been made, and that Dr. Goebbels for once has told the truth.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.