Aug. 14, The guess by the diplomatic editor of the vincial Times" that "It is possible that Signor Mussolini will, in the near future, propose a new international conference, which would be, firstly, to improve relations among Germany, Italy, Great Britain and France, and, secondly, to tackle several economic and political problems of world importance," is interesting, but, nevertheless, nothing but speculation at the moment. It may prove to be a piece of intelligent anticipation, and it is to be hoped that it will, but there is very little to indicate in the European situation as it stand at present that there is any very great likelihood of any such move being made. The last two years, however, have been so full of surprises most of them unhappy ones, that the law of averages seems to require that, at any rate for once, a turn for the better is just about overdue, though its advent may even now be long delayed. That Signor Mussolini has on several Sceasions had a moderating influence in European politics has to be admitted and in this respect he seems to have shown a greater degree of sound statesmanship than has his partner in the Axis, but the real question is as to' how far his influence may be counted upon to restrain the impetuosity of Herr Hitler especially now: that the latter' jand his party have acquired so great an influence in Italian councils. That must for the present remain a matter for speculation, though it need not be very surprising if great a gobd faith on the side of the totalitarian states as there was on the part of Great Britain and France, and the point, therefore, arises that something will have to be done to remove the atmosphere of mutual distrust which at present prevails and to bring about a better feeling all round, without which the necessary ce-operation will be entirely impossible. "It has been reported that Lord Halifax, when the German Ambassador called upon him last week, informed him that the time of bloodless conquests had disappeared. Only two alternatives remain, settlement by peaceful negotiation, or a resort to war. The interests of the whole of Europe, nay of the whole world, demand that Peaceful negotiation shall bring about a settlement of outstanding questions, but such a settlement does not envisage that either Germany or Italy would be able to obtain satisfaction of all the demands which they have at various times put forward. It is not even clear that a satisfactory compromise is pos~ sible, for the attitude of Great Britain and France has made it quite clear that the status quo 58 to be preserved. That is the significance of the guarantees which have been extended to Poland, Rumania, Greece and Turkey. There is no intention that further variations of the map of Europe shall be brought about either by power politics or by any agreement in which those countries would have no say, and if the redrawing of the map of Europe is definitely out of the question, there seems little of political importance remaining for discussion, though the economic problems to be solved' would still remain, It is doubtful whether it will be possible to summon such a Four Power Conference. To attempt to do so, would again be to administer the same sort of snub to Russia as that which was given last year. Russia as 'a European Power has every right to be taken into consultation, and any endeavour to exclude her would diminish the chances of the conference ever resulting satisfactorily, If Ti Duce contemplates making any such move as is suggested,—and again it must be emphasized that the whole report is based on. speculation—the time factor is of the greatest importance. If Germany and Italy are contemplating the revision of the Treaties of the Trianon and Saint Germain, in similar fashion to that in which Herr' Hitler has revised the Treaty of Versailles, any attempt to do so prior to asking for a conference would lead inevitably to the rejection of any such request. The initiative for the removal of present problems from the area of peaceful discussion, is now and always has been in the hands of the Axis Powers. If those issues are to be decided by war, that is a point solely for Germany and Italy to decide, for the democracies will only fight a war of self-defence and the defence of those to whom they have extended their guarantees, and it 18 not without reason to suggest that if Signor Mussolini has any such idea in his mind, the sooner it is published the better will be' the chances. of its success. Great Britain and France have always been willing to go to the conference table in an endeavour to secure rome Permanent adjustment of European relationships, even at a time when their armaments did not equip them with the authority which they now possess, and if Signor Mussolini were to make the proposed suggestion it would not fall upon deaf ears so far as they fare concerned. The danger is that so long as the proponents of the short quick war play so influential a part in the councils of the German Government the chances of a peaceful: settlement of European problems will always remain slight. Once they are convinced that there is going to be nothing of that nature when war breaks out the chances of a peaceful outcome of present tension will improve.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.