Aprit 28
With the passage in the House of Com mons of the Government motion advocating the introduction of conscription in Great Britain by a majority which shows that the division followed ordinary party lines, it is possible to pay attention to other important developments throughout the world. The enactment of the necessary legislation to make the motion operative should be practic ally a matter of routine, for there is now no reason to suppose that the Government will Jose any of that support upon which it would normally be entitled to count, Eyes are now naturally tuned to Germany, and by the time these lines appear in print the world at large will know what Herr Hitler has had to say before the Reichstag regarding the test developments in the European situa~ tion. Taking what is undoubtedly the proper view of the matter it would seem that in recent months undue importance has een attached to Der Fuchrer's utterances. There have been on practically every occasion much anxious speculation as to what epoch-maleing sentiments he will express, only to find in the ultimate result that nothing quite so drastic as was feared eventuated. It Is about time that these various speeches by the different German leaders should be reduced to their proper importance. Further addresses ure expected on May 1, the Ger~ man national day. Between now, and then there will. be much speculation, whipped up by natural anxiety, and an' exaggerated campaign of sensationalism, probably only to find that apart from the usual type of rodomontade devised especially for home consumption Herr Hitler will have said little that the world does not already know. Owing to the difference of time between Shanghai and Europe it will not be possible to comment on Herr Hitler's Reichstag speech. It may not in the. ultimate result be necessary. If he flatly rejects President Roosevelt's pence appeal, that will come as no surprise to the world' and need not even have a worsening effect upon the existing tension, If he docs not finally stam the door upon all attempts at securing peace, he will merely have shown a wise estimation of existing circumstances which no clever statesman can afford to ignore.
For that reason the report from Washing ton that the United States Government does
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.