Diplomats' Journeys If the ceaseless scurryin g of diplomatists across the
face of Europe produced half the effect the personalities concerned hope, the relationships between the States of the continent would be undergoing transformation daily. Fortunately that does not happen. Field-Marshal von Blomberg has this week been in Italy trying to strengthen the Rome-Berlin axis; Baron von Neurath has been in Jugoslavia trying to strengthen the Berlin-Belgrade, and possibly the Belgrade- Budapest, axis. Colonel Beck has been in Rumania trying to strengthen the Warsaw-Bucharest axis, and the Bucharest- Prague axis will be under discussion when Dr. Hodza, Prime Minister of Czechoslovakia, also betakes himself, as he shortly will, to the Rumanian capital. Germany and Italy are working in concert to extend their influence in South East Europe, and so far as their aims are economic that is reasonable enough. There have always been natural trade channels between South East Europe and Germany in panicii- lar. But even that is not so simple; Jugoslavia, which Baron von Neurath seeks to woo, has had unhappy experience of Germany's habit of buying on credit and then declaring herself unable to liquidate the credit except by the supply of goods which Jugoslavia may or may not want. So far as the aim is to weaken the Little Entente its success would be a misfortune. There are certain dangers here. King Carol's influence in the policy of Rumania is unpredictable and there is at Bucharest at present a certain coolness towards Czechoslovakia owing to the latter's treaty with Russia. But the Little Entente has withstood too many strains to justify any serious anxiety about its survival now. * * * *
