History dictates we ought to beware our neighbours bearing gifts

Aug 10, 2008 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
I am at one with Mr. Emile Mervin’s views as expressed in his letter to your newspaper of 7th August 2008: “Every sane Guyanese should be wary of President Chavez’s carrot stick diplomacy.”

However, unlike Mr. Mervin, I would not waste time or space urging Mr. Rayman “ to recalibrate his logic.” I ask merely that he revisits his history books and remind himself that not every wooden horse is a well-intended gift.

In fact, ‘the Trojan Horse’ was a very successful military stratagem devised by Odysseus, which practically ended the Trojan War in the 14th Century BC.

Indeed, I agree with the American President Harry S. Truman who once famously said: “The only new thing in the world is the history we don’t know.”

The annals of German history tell us that between 1936 and 1939 Adolf Hitler decided Germany would rearm in preparation for re-alignment with her more immediate neighbours.

He was determined to outwit the “we-have–nothing-to-fear” advocates in the interest of German advancement.

In a two-faced diplomatic offensive, Hitler did the unexpected thing. In January 1934, he concluded a non-aggression pact with Poland.

In September, 1939 he invaded. In fact, Hitler had long resented what he saw as an artificial state incorporating territory which had formerly been German. Hitler was cunning in the choice of gestures he made, designed to further, and not injure, his territorial interests.

We read with unremitting regularity that Venezuela is building up its war machine by acquiring more and more weapons of war. Even US Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld is concerned about Venezuela’s billion-dollar arms purchase from Russia.

At the same time, Guyanese ought to be concerned that Venezuela is offering Guyana a pipeline to Suriname and a road connecting itself to Georgetown.

Why does Mr. Rahman assume that this rearming process is unrelated to Venezuela’s expansionist motives?
According to the annals of German history, as early as 1930, Hitler was speaking about “lebensraum” (living space) by occupation of lands to the East….a ‘geo-political’ solution.

“For Germany…the only possibility for carrying out a healthy territorial policy lay in the acquisition of new land in Europe itself.”

As European/ world history was soon to reveal, no international agreements would stand in Hitler’s way. In fact, he once said to a trusted colleague, Rauschning, “I shall shrink from nothing, no so-called international law, no arguments will prevent me from taking any advantage that offers”.

In pursuit of his territorial ambitions, Hitler said he would use temporary treaties of friendship, non-aggression pacts: “I am willing to sign anything…. there has never been a sworn treaty which has not sooner or later been broken or become untenable.

Anyone whose conscience is so tender that he will not sign a treaty unless he can feel sure he can keep it in all and any circumstance is a fool ….I shall make any treaty I require.”

Between 1934 and 1942, Hitler gave understandings, promises, commitments and signed several treaties and pacts designed to lull his intended prey into feelings of false security.

In 1938 he annexed Austria. In March 1939 he added Bohemia and Moravia. In September he invaded Poland. On April 9th 1940 he invaded Denmark and Norway. On May 10th he invaded Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg.

And on October 7th German troops entered Romania. By late 1941 the Germans were in Moscow and had occupied the Odessa with Romanian help. Need I go on?

At the very least, Venezuela’s claim over the Essequibo and 19.1 million of our 21.5 million hectares of sovereign territory must be resolved unequivocally and permanently before any project involving a road from Venezuela to Georgetown and a pipeline to Suriname is even considered. Both modern and ancient history dictate we ought to beware our neighbours bearing gifts.
F. Hamley Case

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History dictates we ought to beware our neighbours bearing gifts

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