Ik is to be regretted that there should be another Cabinet crisis in France at this juncture, but it apparent that M, Laval had little choice in the matter, for with the withdrawal of a number of his col-Teagues "It was clear that he could no longer rely upon the support of the parties which had joined with him to form his government. When six' Radical-Socialisis followed Herriot's example, it was apparent that the Cabinet could not continue 'oF hope to face another vole of non-confidence which would certainly have been proposed in the Chamber of Deputies. M. Laval has had a fairly long term of office having been In power for over six months, but It has been a troublous time and' he hi succeeded in weathering quite a number of rises during his. tenure Jof office. Nevertheless he is probably quite correct In his contention that his policy has had the effect of Inducing premonitory signs of the return of that prosperity for which France has long waited, The results self what on earth he was doing in that galley?
It Is not surprising therefore that his speech at Warwick should appear to lack the romantic fervour of some of his Geneva utterances. It has happily the practical firmness of the statesman who successfully helped to devise the solution of the Saar problem. It is discreetly Conservative in its references to Italy, without in any way yielding on the 1 principles of the collective system. Mr. Eden is able to dispense with any apologetic defence Jof the League. Recent events have established reliance on the League a fundamental principle of British foreign policy. The mere fact that the portfolio of the League, remains in his hands, absorbed once more into the general care of his department, is significant. Therefore hie can point fearlessly to the danger of calling upon the League to overstrain the collective strength of its members. That is the key to the Government's policy. Mr. Harold Nicolson put the matter well in his Jmaiden speech in the House of Commons when he urged the Government to think more of the League and less of Abyssinia and Italy. Mr. Eden is evidently taking that hint to heart. In striving to strengthen the League's authority, the British Government will effectually vindicate its freedom from specific hostility to either of the principals in the unhappy dispute which it is the earnest desire of the world to see composed. It is satisfactory to find that Mr. Eden's speech has been given a by no means unfavourable Teception at Rome. That alone suggests the possible exertion of fluences in amicable adjustment by the acceptance of realities on which Mr. Eden lays appropriate emphasis. likely to accrue from this latest development, so far as certain aspects of French foreign policy are concerned will be awaited with some anxiety. It is not to be anticipated that there will be any considerable! modification of France's stand with Great Britain in the matter of the lo-Ethiopian dispute. and most certainly not along the lines' weakening the present bonds of common policy in which the two eountries have been united. 'There is, however, the possibility' that further League of Nations action in. the matter will be delayed until after the elections this year in which event further action with regard to more sanctions may be very con derably delayed,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.