29 NOVEMBER 1935, Page 2

Franco-German Relations The attention temporarily concentrated on the inter- view

between the French Ambassador at Berlin and Herr Hitler at the end of last week appears to be in excess of what the facts justified. There is no doubt that M. Laval is anxious, very rightly, for an improvement in Franco- German relations, and that Herr Hitler still cherishes the idea • of an Anglo-Franco-German understanding, for which, provided it is kept in its right relation to the League of Nations, there is much to be said. But there is no evidence that M. Francois-Poneet did more than assure the German Chancellor that the Franco-Soviet pact was directed against neither Germany nor any other country. But Germany has been assured of that more than once, and remains as radically hostile to the pact as ever. Its still impending ratification by France will be highly unpopular at Berlin, but that is a good reason for getting the ratification through and done with. While every indi- cation of a rapprochement between France and Germany is to be welcomed, it appears as if the initiative in the direction of a better understanding between the Western European States could with most advantage be taken by this country. Explorations might well be made as to the practicability of taking up again the negotiations for a Western Air Pact, particularly as this would necessarily involve some general limitation of Mr forces. In the absence of that disastrous competition in the air is inevitable. * *