It would be as well for any who happen to be convinced of the justice of Germany's claim that British policy of recent months amounted to a hostile encirclement, to read the provisions of the tripartite agreement which has now been signed by Great Britain, France and Turkey. A more inoffensive document could not be imgained in the circumstances, for it is purely an agreement for mutual defence against aggres~ sion, levelled at no particular country, but merely designed to secure common action in the event of any one of the signatories being menaced in a Mediterranean war. In such an event reciprocal aid will be extended, while, if as a result of their guarantees to Rumania and Greece Britain and France become involved in a war, Turkey is pledged to go to their assistance. A protocol attached to the Treaty provides that Turkey shall not be obliged to take any action involving anything that would result in hostilities with the Soviet, The way is, therefore, left open for a resumption of Russo-Turkish negotiations which were recently broken off, and there is nothing in the Treaty as it stands to prevent Turkey m; taining her traditional friendship with Russi Whether it will permit her to accede to the demands which it is reported Turkey originally found unacceptable is doubtful, for the tripartite agreement most certainly contemplates the maintenance of the status quo with regard to the Dardanelles, giving the Allies access to the Black Sea which might prove of importance were it to become necessary to extend to Rumania that assistance contemplated by the guarantees against aggression which have already been given her. Even of more importance is the knowledge that by reason of this latest agreement the position of the Allies in the eastern Mediterranean has been very definitely strengthened, and a general stability created which should remove much of the anxiety which was formerly felt on this score, That this new arrangement will be regarded with scant favour in Berlin goes without saying, for the Allies have secured a definite and striking diplomatic victory, one which Germany did her utmost to prevent, The Nordic Conference The decision of the Scandinavian powers, in conference at Stockholm, not to attempt to mediate at present between the Allies and Germany, as disclosed in the communique issued yesterday, was not unforeseen. The Nordic conference referred to the offer of the Oslo group to endeavour to effect conciliation before the war broke out, and the statement is added to the effect that that readiness still remained unchanged. But the time for intervention is not yet. No change has been made in the terms upon which Herr Hitler wants peace, and, until he has been brought to a more amenable frame of mind, there is small like-li hood of any endeavours to arrange peace meeting with any sort of success. The war aims of the Allies have been so definitely stated that there can now be no misunderstanding as to their ultimate objectives. They are determined that the rule of violent aggression shall be ended. In that determination they are in fact bent on achieving something which will remove the threat which must hang over the Scandinavian neutrals so long as Herr Hitler remains in power. Viewed in that light Great Britain and France are fighting as much for their safety as they are for their own, for no nation can consider itself safe until this menace has been suppressed. It is for that reason that it is contended that, regrettable as it may be, this is no time to talk peace. Were it secured at the moment in existing conditions there is no guarantee whatever that Europe would not be plunged into war at some comparatively early date in the future. There is also the difficulty which has been appreciated in the United States, and probably is in the Nordic countries. It is impossible at the present moment for any neutral to offer to mediate without in fact recognizing the conquest of Poland. That can never be recognized, for once it is, then the seal is placed upon the results of German aggression, and a precedent established for further acts of violence.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.