The Democracies of Europe
Very considerable importance attaches to the statement made by the Dutch Prime Minister, Dr. Colijn, to the Seandinavian papers of last Saturday on closer union between the democratic countries of Europe, and in particular Western Europe. Some two months ago The Times published a statement on very similar lines from Hr. Hansson, the Prime Minister of Sweden, and both Premiers are agreed that immediate action, in the direction particularly of economic co-operation between the Scandinavian countries, Finland, Holland, Belgium • and Luxembourg, should be attempted. All are signa- tories of the Oslo Convention; whose purpose was to make possible the formation of a low-tariff group of States, but the operation of the most-favoured-nation clause cuts two ways, and a most desirable low-tariff agreement between Holland and Belgium was frustrated in 1933 because this country declined to waive its most-favoured- nation rights. It is now immensely desirable that Britain and France should associate themselves with the move- ment the smaller States arc initiating. In the field of ideas, of culture and of simple friendship and under- standing the democracies. of Europe need to be in the ' closest contact, in addition to supporting one another economically by low-tariff agreements. There is a great opportunity here for constructive and pacific British statesmanship. * * * *
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