May 2.
One of the most gratifying features of the Anglo-French conversations of last week is the manner in which they have been regarded by the press of the two countries most closely interested in the result, viz, Germany and) Italy. With regard to the former there was an uneasy, tendency to look upon the negotia~ tions as likely to leave Germany out in the! cold, but that now seems to have disappeared In the realization that the British and French Ministers have devised no startling departures from policies already widely known, but have remained content to investigate means of making the ce-operation already provided for more complete and effective. With regard to the Anglo-French attitude towards the Czechostovakian crisis the realism of Mr.
Chamberlain again appears to have won the] day, and, while there seems to be no very! real departure from the original French policy in the matter, the way has been left open for the two Powers, but particularly Great Britain, to endeavour to arrange a satisfactory compromise. between the Czechoslovakian Government and the Sudeten Germans, Imresumption of the general staff conferences between the two countries is no new development, but merely a continuance in accordance with the military agreement of 1930. From that point of view nothing new has been imported into the general scheme of things, and the summing up of the situation as it now exists indicates _more of a clarification of the whole position than the adoption of new expedients.
While complete details of all the decisions} arrived at have not been made public, it is! apparent that an important development is likely. It is suggested that the British and French Ministers have agreed on a joint demarche to Prague requesting that full] autonomy be granted to the Sudeten Germans! within a federal system to be modelled on the pattern of Switzerland. On the other! hand Britain is to approach Berlin reminding. it of previous German assurances to the effect. that the Reich nourishes no hostile intentions regarding Czechoslovakia and informing it of the counsel given to Prague. The taking of this action will test German bona {fides in the matter. If Herr Henlein, leader of the Sudeten Germans, cannot be persuaded by Berlin to make' as much concession in the matter as Britain and France are desiring of Dr. Benes, and if Herr Hitler's Government falls to' assist in securing a moderation of Herr Henlein's terms, then there is only one conclusion to be drawn, and that one which augurs evil for the future peace of Europe. One of the results Of recent happenings on the Danube has meant that the initiative towards peace has passed into Anglo-French hands, while the initiative towards war has remained very much where it has been during the last three troublesome years, This Czechoslovakian crisis ought to be, and is capable of amic~ able settlement. If there are Sudeten desires which could and should be met, if there are promises which have not been kept, it ought to be possible through the good offices of a third party—in this case Great Britain in conjunction with France—to bring about a general appeasement. There is rather more than a suggestion to be found not only in the telegrams which have been received! from Europe, but also in the correspondence fon the subject which has appeared in these columns that the cases for both sides have! been overstated. That is inevitable in disputes such as these which have about them. all the irreconcilabilities of a religious dispute, but practical means will have to be found {or a fair adjustment if war, sooner or later, is not to, arise from this very cause.
'Thus' while the conversations in London have proved very gratifying as conducing to the best possible understanding between the two nations, the satisfaction felt should not blind the eye to the dangers which still exist. Should Great Britain and France receive anything in the nature of a rebuff in their endeavours to secure an enduring settlement the Czechoslovakian matter, the present situation, which appears to be so great an improvement on anything which has occurred in the past, will definitely be worsened. That is true of practically all developments in the policy of the appeasement of Europe. The nearer the nations get to an amicable understanding the severer the effect of any setback! upon the general situation, and failure at! this junction to arrive at a settlement would be calamitous. Great Britain and France, it may be believed, are now better fitted to meet such an eventuality, and the question naturally arises as to how far Germany and Italy are prepared to contribute to an all-round settlement. Italy has given assurances to Great Britain which are most satisfactory; their implification "will have an_ enormous effect upon the situation directly that process] begins. But what of Germany? She has an opportunity of throwing her weight with] that of Great Britain and France in favour] of a friendly settlement wf the Sudeten German issue. If she were to seek to persuade] Herr Henlein in the interests of general Peace to modify his demands, even if Herr Hitler did not succeed—a likelihood which is unbelievable in the circumstances—he would have made a gesture the effect of which would be historical for all time. It would mean something in the nature of an advance half-way towards Great Britain and France, and in view of Mr. Chamberlain's general policy in Europe would pave the way for that general understanding of which it stands in such dire need. The revival of the Four Power Pact may in present circumstances be an idle dream, but if British am~ ditions to bring the four great Western European Powers to a common council table were to succeed, present fears which are the chief factor in the, existing unsettlement, would disappear and a substantial degree of confidence take their place, portant as that question is, it holds second lace to the perfecting of the military understanding between the two countries which has now been achieved. There never was any misunderstanding, but the negotiations of last week have cleared up a number of mitier points, and it has been manifested to, the world at large that the completest understanding has been reached upon. the subject! of mutual defence against aggression. The community of interests between the two has again to be strongly emphasized, and some the decisions arrived at clearly demonstrate common readiness to assist*in the general settlement of Europe, Perhaps a little too] much stress has been laid upon the military side of the results of the conversation. The!
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.