Germany, as has been said, must be excepted. from that
general judgement. Her attitude is undisclosed, and the attention drawn to the cordiality of the interchanges be- tween Herr Hitler and the new Italian Ambassador in Berlin last Sunday has given rise to various inevitable specula- tl°11s. There is in actual fact no good reason to suppose that Germany regards this as a suitable moment for taking external risks, or that if she did she would be much inclined to take them on behalf of Italy. The reasons why Signor Mussolini should court Herr Hitler are obvious, but Herr Hitler hai shown no signs of a desire to court Signor Mussolini. His estimate of the value of Italhin support is not necessarily identical with :the: Duce's. Germany is fully preoccupied with her internal problemS, but not so much so as to need distraction abroad at any cost. Herr Hitler's policy, moreover, is based on the principle of a good understanding with this country and France. The Anglo-German naval agreement was, for Germany, a justification of that Policy, and there is no doubt that its further development in the 'direction of the projected Western Air Pact is genuinely desired. An Italo-German understanding would be a very light weight in the opposite scale, even if the essential agreement regarding Austria could be reached. Sir Samuel Hoare's proposals regarding colonies and raw materials are worth more to Germany than anything Signor. Mussolini is in a position to offer. * *
