This week will sce the meeting of, British and French leaders in Paris for on matters of extreme important, itis hoped that far-reaching decisions the made which will have a favvurabie cat ripon the further development of peace One. of the most. important matter involve Snvestigation Into the possi securing a "no wat" declaration by and Germany along the lines of that sins Mx. Chamberlain and. Here Mi" Munich, On the value of the Anglo-Gery! declaration recent "events have cat out, for speeches of the 'German reset fud articles in the German 'Press sunt hat much will have to alter' before interesting document becomes anything than a meaningless piece of paper. Obvig there is ground for thinking. that in quarters in Germany the impression praise that the only contributions to be inde the cotise of peace must come. trond democratic states, for up to the present Wee little to show that Germany is willy' fg0 half way towards a betterment which 0 earnestly desied, "That as wells tine other factors will serve to embarrass conversations which are {0 take place the tveek between the British and Trench Pee Ministers, but a" Prance-German declares Similar to the "Anglo-German. seems to te the most desirable step to. be taken in: mediately for the purpose of advancing Chamberlain's plan for general appeasement The French leaders, itis reported, have bee earnestly. working towards this end, though the matter has been complicated becnse Berlin's insistence that the French. res Should be. partially gagged, The Freeh Government was prepared to. go ts far issuing a decree enabling legal action i be taken against that section of the press gully of publishing comment offensive 10 the hes of state, but even this proposition hay int with s0 much opposition that the Government is at present reluctant to go any further wih the scheme. The aimeuty is to finds dido ing between what the heads of neighbouring ater will ud offensive and what they vil of, for the border-line betiveen fair and fai criticism is exceptionally narrow in thee eyes.
One of the most important aspects o tis week's meeting is this renewed demonstaie of the solidarity of Anglo-French reals There have of late been noticed very defi attempts on. the parts of some. leader They have met with no success. It is unhaving in memory the perils which the two ions have faced in the past anc may be called upon to face in the future, that there should be any rift in their friend ship, for even if there were any real sentiment in favour of such a thing—and there is certainly little, if any-—common_ interests require that the two nations should remain as close together now as they have been in the past. It would be contrary to good sens and proper feeling for there to be any wide gap between the two countries now, and the meeting this week may be accepted as o 1 enunciation of that amity which was phasized by the recent visit of the King and Queen to Paris. 'There is a large number questions to be discussed,—economie appease ment of Europe, Far Eastern matters, joint military, naval and air strategy in the light of the' situation created by the Munich Agreement, the general question of French armaments and French anxiety concerning the safety of her communications with het north African colonies. In this connection 2 betterment of Franco-italian relations seems eminently desirable. The removal of re strictions on touring between the two cout tries, and the recent appointment of Ambassadors shows that some improvement has been effected in the relations between tie two countries, but there is still very much room for more. The opinion of observer! in Paris that while both Berlin and Rome are ready to respond to Mr. Chamber~ Jain's overtures, it is dependent upon the disruption of the traditional Anglo-Freteh friendship is something which has to be taker into account, It is a condition which canto be satisfied, and the only real appeasement which is likely to prove of permanent valle is one based upon the realization that, sich a future is as unnecessary as it is unlikely The altitude of Great Britain and Fran towards developments in the Far East naturally a matter of the greatest importance to their respective nationals in this portion of the world. The adoption of parah policies as indicated by the presentation of similar Notes to Tokyo on the subject of the Feopening of the Yangtze is a step which needs to be followed up. Between the ly Mations there is a very important community Of interests, and the problems which Sse action in China poses for he one itianty'to be dear wth by we ater. 18 Connection it isnot to be expected that 0 decisions will be reached in Paris. THe found needs most coreily to be expe before each successive step is taken, while the situation calls for very considerable Santon, ite not to: be. Delleved 1 moment that either country will abandon (Continued on page 311)
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.