15 MAY 1936, Page 2

The Questions to Germany More comment has been aroused in

Germany by the decision to publish the questions addressed by the British Government to Herr Hitler than by the questions themselves. As to the questions, it was quite essential that they should be put ; the elucidation of various points in Herr Hitler's declaration of March 7th was imperative. And they could not have been framed in more tactful or inoffensive language. If it elicits the replies that may be hoped for, the questionnaire will have rendered great service, but it would still be useful for a British Minister, presumably Mr. Eden or Lord Halifax, to visit Berlin and discuss the situation with Herr Hitler face to face. The attitude of the new French Government on the German question has not yet been defined. A Left-wing adminis- tration will not be credited with much enthusiasm for National Socialism. On the other hand it must be credited with great 'enthusiasm for peace, and if Mr. Eden can reach agreement with Herr Hitler on a reason- able basis, he is not likely to find M. Blum and his colleagues raising gratuitous difficulties. As to the decision to publish the British memorandum, it was apparently fully approved by Baron von Neurath. There was undoubtedly something to be said for keeping the negotiations private, but the history of garbled versions of secret documents has grave lessons to convey.