The details of the agreement are less important than the
fact that a voluntary limitation agreement has actually been concluded—the only one since the War except for the Washington and London naval treaties, and the only one in which Germany has been a willing partner. That is of good omen for the Air Pact negotiations about which Sir Samuel Hoare spoke rather mysteriously in the House of Commons on Monday, and which Mr. Eden will no doubt discuss with French Ministers during his visit to Paris. The sooner the Pact is pushed forward the better, the more so since it must inevitably involve a limitation of air forces. France may be logical in demanding that Germany shall agree to the proposals of the London Conference of February as a whole, but the danger of sacrificing the substance for the form is very real. For the moment the policy of effecting any reasonable limitation agreement with Germany is the right one. And if France is anxious about land forces she must remember that Herr Hitler has declared himself ready for almost any limitation of weapons, which in the warfare of today count far more than men. Another cause of possible anxiety is submarines. Under the new agreement Germany claims the right to build to the British level, but undertakes actually not to exceed 45 per cent. in normal circumstances. Here other countries have the situation in their own hands. This country desires to abolish submarines altogether. If they accept that, then Germany can have none at all—for 45 per cent. of nil is nil.
