Jan. 30, If there ix any comforting gloam of light to be found in the present gloom of the world's anxiety, it must be so far as the dem= crocies are concerned in the speech which Mr. Neville Chamberlain made at Birmingham at the dinner of the Jewellers Association. It was indicative of a greater resolution than has been hitherto apparent in his public utterances, and, coming as it docs] eqt fon the eve of important pronouncements expected on the Continent this week, gives comforting assurance that whatever "may: foceur it will be met with satisfactory firmness, The Prime Minister's justification of the understanding he reached with Italy, and the good effects which he claimed sulted therefrom on September of last year is a necessary reminder to those who have consistently criticized his policy, that even if the benefits originally expected, have not yet been fully attained, there, nevertheless, have been results the importance of which cannot now been gain said. The Munich greement was undoubtedly unpalatable to large number of Britons and French. It was inevitable that it should be, and even now the aftertaste is by no means pleasant, bout if it has only succeeded in affording, Britain and France a respite from war, no matter how short it may prove to be, it have given those countries much needed time in which all the better to prepare for what is feared. That is as apparent in Mr. Chamberlain's speech, as it is in those of Sir Kingsley Wood, and Earl Stanhope in Great Britain and M, Reynaue's declaration in a broadcast from Paris, All of them report a better state of affairs with regard to mutual defence than was probably realized by the man in the street, and while that will undoubtedly create a' greater fecl~ ing of confidence, it should be remembered that it is only a qualified confidence in the ability better to face the worst should future developments tend that way.
There is, of course, a danger that the remarkable speed with which Great Britain is rearming may in itself prove a disturbing factor in European relationships, and possibly even hasten the advent of war. That is a risk which has to be accepted, for it would be the height of folly if either Great Britain or France delayed the full achievement of their rearmament programmes in the hope that thereby peace might be more certainly assured. If there is one fact which cannot be overlooked in the history of international politics during the last few years, it is that an honest endeavour to bring about general disarmament, by setting good examples, has not only proved an egregious failure, but actually deprived the voice of Great Britain of that authority which should be, and now is, fortunately, more certain. The rapid extension of British naval forces should in the not too distant future have a very salutary effect upon problems not only in Europe but in other parts of the world: the hastening to repair deficiencies in the air defence of the British Isles, has not been without very satisfactory results during the last few months since Munich, while the fact that the acceleration in making these adjustments is progressive brings the time of a maximum of efficiency in defence all the nearer. this that Mr. Chamber possible to speak with renewed confidence Jand greater resolution. The establishment of greater resources for defence has made this possible, and though there may even now be gaps, those which it was shown did exist last autumn have now been considerably closed with the result that the general situation in this respect is infinitely greater than it was but four months ago. To enlarge upon Mr. Chamberlain's own remarks, the British policy has never been one of aggressive defiance, it might have savoured at one time of somewhat unnecessary deference, but now Is most ccrtainly one of efficient defence.
This increased confidence in the might of Great Britain to meet and cope with the anticipated political exigences must in turn effect them. It is by no means clear what Herr Hitler will have to say this evening, nor in what direction he is at present turn= ing his eyes. Even speculation in Germany may be as completely at sca as that in other countries, but the fact that the entente cordiale is in a better position now to defend itself, must undoubtedly weigh with him, That it renders any contemplated resort to arms even more of a gamble 30 far as Germany and Italy are concerned is a factor which must undoubtedly commend itself to the consideration of the rulers of those two states, and the chance is even now great that what Herr Hitler will do is to demand the convocation of the Four Power conference, with the idea of which practically every' one of the four have Lately been dallying. If Herr Hitler socks fo wrest advantages round the conference table, rather than immediately precipitate Europe into war there need be no great occasion for surprise, though it would mean departure from the peremptory tactics to Which he resorted last year. But even that conference would assume a very different complexion from that which took place ut Munich, the {wo groups being more on a parity with each other than they were then, and it is possible, were such a conference to be held, that results doing a considerable jaunt of justice all round might be secur-Should, on the other hand, Herr Hitler continue his former attitude of "Stand and deliver," the situation created will be serious. The democracies are no longer content to be subjected to that form of treatment, and are better able now to maintain their own point of view. For reasons such as this the next development can be awaited with confidence, if not with janimity, for, imposing s the combined might of Germany and Italy may appear, that of the entente cordiale is in no whit inferior. It may eventually prove to be very superior.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.