While there is in fact nothing remarkably new in the latest speech which Lord Halifax has delivered, and of which an account appears elsewhere in this issue, it is nevertheless of importance, coming as it does at such a juncture as the present There are varying views as to the imminence of a crisis concerning the fate of Danzig, some circles suggesting the likelihood of matters being brought to a head over this week-end, while others contend that the crisis is still some weeks away. Lotd Halifax appears to have made his speech with the approval of the Prime Minister, not only with regard to its text but also its timeliness. It is important that there should be no misunderstanding as to what will be Great Britain's attitude to certain eventualities which have been clearly defined. Even if the inclusion of Russia into a tripartite mutual assistance pact against aggression has not yet been brought into effect, French and British commitments to Poland and Rumania are perfectly clear. Any aggression which Poland desires to resist will lead to assistance being given her by both nations. That this would mean a general European war is the one great fact of which the German and Italian Governments have been repeatedly apprised by British leaders since the Prime Minister was brought to a realization of the failure of' his appeasement policy. It is to be hoped that any such catastrophe will be averted, for the perils to the world attendant upon any such eventuality are such as to create fears for the future of civilization, and the reduction to chaos which would find little or no parallel in the Dark Ages. It is to be hoped, however, that before any such danger does eventually raise its ugly head the Anglo-French-Russian Pact will have been brought into being. That it represents the creation of a new balance of power in favour of those who desire to resist aggression is the best guarantee it can offer for the future peace of Europe, and there is only one fear and that is that hostilities may be commenced before the alliance can be perfected.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.