The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-02-12
A THREAD OF UNDERSTANDING

seek to thwart incipient fascism?
Shall we remember first the Anglo
German naval pact of 1885 which
strengthened Germany's position just
a few months after Hitler defied that
clause of the Versailles treaty which
forbade Germany to have a conscript
army. They say this merely contin-
ued a policy of supporting reaction
in Germany in order to create the
spearhead for powerful drive of an
Inhalation against the Soviet Union,
and, incidentally to break up the lead
ing position which France enjoyed on
the continent through the provisions
of the treaty of Versailles.
Or take that first instance of fascist
aggression against a weak, helpless
nation; an instance that has since
served as a model for like successive
actions: the seizure of Manchuria by
Japan during 1912 in defiance OF the
Covenant of the League of Nations,
as well as of the Washington Nine
Power Pact regarding China. Here,
by more observance of the Covenant
of the League of Nations, was a
chance to destroy Japanese militarism
and serve a warning to Hitler and
Mussolini. 1t is understood and
agreed that Sir John Simon, England's
foreign secretary, outdid himself at
Geneva to achieve the desired action:
nothing.
The plans of Mussolini as he pre-
pared to embrace Abyssinia in a death
kiss well-known year in advance.
Righteous declarations halted him not
one bit With the actual commence
ment of war half-hearted sanctions
were applied, but the essential war
materials, especially the all-important
oil, continued flowing into Mussolini's
war machine and the great opportun-
ity to cripple the fascist regime In
Italy was nullified Once again Brit
ish sabotage of the League of Nations
had strengthened a fascist aggressor.
The next blatant instance is Spain.
Once more sacrificing the machinery
of the League of Nations and fragrant
ly disregarding established interna-
tional law, by the farce of 'non-inter-
vention" British diplomacy with its
French counterpart) once again boil
stored the forces of fascism.
Perhaps we should record, also, that
meeting in Brussels in 1887 when the
signatories of the Nine-Power Pact
the territorial integrity
of China, met to consider Japan's in
vasion of China. Once again the
champions of democracy" manue-
vered successfully to accomplish moth
ing.
The British people and the people
of democratic principles everywhere
were loudly indignant over the annex
alton of Austria; their governments
bodily quiescent. Then came Czecho-
Slovakia and it might be well to pause
and remember with what magnificent
the British statesmen be-
queathed that country to Hitler. al
together oblivious to the desires or
the people of that country, and disre-
the mutualassistance pacts In
existence to aid that country to main
tain her independence.
And when the semi-fascist govern
ment of Poland begged its English ally
for fifty planes with which to meet
he German invader, neither planes
nor any help were forthcoming Did
he British ruling class hope that the
German army would sweep
across Poland and on into soviet ter
ritory?
One more recollection before we
close the revolving story: just BRIEF
reference to the dragging sessions OF
he Disarmament Conference which
finally eliminated in total wreckage
1t Britain's insistence on the reten-
ion of bombing planes
Yes, we hate Hitler's nazi-ism but
ct us not, for one moment, be fooled
)y British imperialism.