| Show Peace for Europe 7 1 SpITE CERTAINTY of a general war following THE JL I- international action to maintain the integrity of Czechoslovakia in opposition to Hitler's plans to get a toehold within its boundaries on the pretext pretext pretext pre pre- text of protecting the Germans appears to be the motivation of the French and British governments in their latest effort to produce a S formula for peace on the continent peace continent peace at any anyS S price Virtually they take their stand with the 1 German fuehrer and leave the landlocked reS republic republic re re- re- re S public to shift for itself without hope of outsideS outside aid S Lacking fin finality lity nevertheless less there is cause in most of Europe for lessening of fears for an 5 immediate widespread war that inevitably would involve all nations directly or indirectly in a conflict of unpredictable consequences The con- con elusions of the British and French certainly will r move n-iove Hitler to greater boldness and resol resolution tion It may soften the spiritedness of President and arid Premier Hodza when they contemplate facing facing facing fac fac- ing the armed and the German army S alone the treaty of the Czechs and France and andS S Russia tossed into the wastebasket as most J- J S treaties have been when put to the test The principle of international morality seems to have weighed less in the scales than the cost costin S in fl human life and money This is a challenge challengeS S to examine the principle princile on its merits It is ex expression ex- ex x- x presson of idealism but is it as untarnished as it itS S appears When nation faces nation the jungle law of survival of the fittest comes into pl play y a law Jaw as old as mankind When nations are bound S. S j to each other by engagements and treaties dei designed de- de i S 0 signed to create a balance of power lurid fundamentally fundamentally amen amen- i. i tally the sa same e principle e is involved When theS the'S the J S 'S clash comes one group contends against the theother theother other and in in- inthe the end the fittest survives survives survives-sur- survives sur- sur vives because of its massed brute force and k craftiness coupled with the integrity and loyalty S of the components of groups linked together But the theory of the balance of power has always alway proved false under under- test The main r rea reason ason ason a- a son is that of self-interest self something which S changes with changing times The balance of i power always predicates the involvement of t many peoples in war when the issue may concern concern concern con con- cern few Its thesis and its appeal to h humanity manity t S j is that it is morally justified jus because it binds S the strong to uphold and defend the weak But Butis i is it t not overpoweringly upset by the fact that the cause of humanity is better served by limiting limiting limit limit- S ing wars war's slaughter to the fewest possible number number number num num- ber of mankind and the destruction wrought to toS S the least possible areas If these considerations have guided the deliberations deliberations de de- de- de liberations of the statesmen of Europe and led them to plead for peace for settlement of differences differences differ- differ differences by orderly means or at worst confinement of struggle within 1 narrow bounds and killings i r to the few instead of the many who sh shall ll say S that their motives have hinged only on national nationalS S self interest S But the move for peace i is ig not far advanced S Other powers are to have their say It may not jr be for many nany days before the future may be jI looked into with anything of assurance And then then only only an armistice The German plan of S empire lies ahead |
