22 JULY 1938, Page 1

j NEWS OF THE WEEK L ORD HALIFAX,who has accompanied theKing

and Queen on their visit to Paris, has of course used this favourable opportunity for discussing the whole international situation with M. Daladier and M. Bonnet. The interview which Herr Wiedemann, Hitler's trusted envoy, had with Lord Halifax just before his departure for Paris was encouraging both for its substance and for the moment chosen. The message from Herr Hitler was one of goodwill to the British Government ; he believed that a lasting improvement was not an impossible task, that there were no fundamental differences that need separate the British and German peoples, and that the German Government were anxious for a peaceful solution of the Sudeten German problem. (Lord Halifax .a his side pointed out that the German will for co-operatioe • might be shown in the matter of the refugees.) Tr. moment chosen for the interview may be taken as an intimation that Herr Hitler does not misunder- stand the close sociation between Great Britain and France, and that he wit. Germany to be joined with Britain in the effort to imp' o ve the international situation. The words as reported are vague, but they undoubtedly express the real desire of the _German Government to get down to negotiations with Britain ; and it is all to the good that Germany should realise that there can be nothing in those negotiations, when they take place, prejudicial to our close relationship with France. .

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