NEWS OF THE WEEK T HE international situation is such, and
the destinies of so many individual countries are so decisively affected by what has happened in the past week and what may happen in the next few days, that the notes on these pages today must be almost wholly devoted to a brief examination of the position of each of the countries individually. That Germany and Italy are pursuing a concerted strategy is cer- tain, and uneasy as Signor Mussolini may be over the risks attaching to his role of junior partner, it would be a mis- chievous delusion to suppose that any rift in the union is impending. The Italian seizure of Albania was preceded by halo-German staff talks at Innsbruck, and further similar talks, with the addition of Hungarian officers, are to take place immediately at Rome. The only hope of saving peace and averting further aggression lies in the mobilisation of so powerful a resistance that the Dictators, neither of whom is believed to be ready for a world-war, would hesitate to precipitate a conflict. It was to be hoped that the Prime Minister would be able in his statement to the House of Commons to announce the formation of such a front, but there seems little reason, as these lines are written, to believe that the 'negotiations in progress have reached that point. Some of the delays—notably the absence of immediate and urgent discussions between Poland and Rumania—are in- explicable and unfortunate, but in such a matter the British Government can do no more than encourage and advise. The main purpose of such advice should be to persuade those two countries to accept Russian support. * *
