May 25.
Europe is breathing rather more easily because of the relaxation of the tension which prevailed last week concerning the Czechoslovakian crisis. But the danger has not yet. been dissipated, and the next two Sundays, on which further polling in connection with the Czechoslovakian election is to take place, may still provide that spare to set the whole vf Europe afire. Nevertheless the situation has much improved, and if the parties involved in the dispute can be prevailed upon' to exercise the same caution as they have been during the past few days a satisfactory conclusion may yet. be reached. Now that. Herr Henlein and Dr. Milan Hodza, the Czech Prime Minister, have met in a conversation which is unofficially reported to have been satisfactory, it is probable that further meet~ ings will be held and eventually a settlement. arrived at. 'That is to be devoutly hoped, for 80 long as' just settlement is lacking, just so Jong will Czechoslovakia remain a menace to European peace. It is not.the only threat for until Germany either achieves or abandons further development of the policy of anschluss the risks of war will remain. It is just as well that these things should be squarely looked at, for to base too high hopes on present developments for a final settlement of German claims in Central Europe would be to indulge in unwarrantable optimism. On the other hand it is as well to be thankful for small mercies and to remember that every day gained for peace may result in pushing the prospect of war further and further into the background: the quicker the many outstanding problems are solved the sooner will come that general appeasement the search for which is one of the main points of Mr. Neville Chamberlain's! foreign policy. For that reason this breath ing space is to be welcomed, though there
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.