27 OCTOBER 1939, Page 6

Apropos of my reference to Herr von Papen's almost unparalleled

record of diplomatic failure, I am reminded that von Papen was responsible for the early stages of the talks that led to the Soviet-German Pact—and so to the alienation from Germany of Italy, Japan and Spain. I km: at the time that one or other of his achievements had escar,1 me.