A SPECTATOR'S NOTEBOOK
THE rumours about President de Valera's desire to reopen conversations with Great Britain on the annuities and other questions seem to have no particular authority behind them. When newspapers disappear, as they have in Dublin owing to the strike, run:oars always spring up thick. But inherent probabilities support these particular rumours, and the fact that Mr. de Valera has decided, for no very obvious reason, to go to the League of Nations Assembly himself can be interpreted as a con- firmation of them. It is quite true that Mr. Thomas will not be at Geneva, but I doubt whether Mr. de Valera has any particular passion for a talk with Mr. Thomas. Sir John Simon and Mr. Eden will be there, and so— which is probably more pertinent—will be delegates from all the Dominions, including the Canadian Prime Minister, Mr. Bennett. This may of course all mean nothing, but at least it can be affirmed as an abstract proposition that it is with the co-operation of such impartial mediators that compromises between two antagonistic parties are often reached. Geneva is neutral ground, and there is always a sort of atmosphere about it.
Previous page
