It is understood that the. German proposals were for some
kind of pact between this country, France, Germany, Belgium and Italy to guarantee the Eastern frontiers of France. Germany was, however, not prepared to have her own Easterii frontier guaranteed, though it appears that she was willing to promise not to attempt to alter that frontier by force. The German offer has not been well received in France. It is said that it seeks to distinguish between different parts of the Versailles Treaty, giving greater validity to that part which deals with the Rhineland and marking out for eventual revision that part which deals with the settlement of Eastern Europe. France would frankly prefer an ordinary defensive alliance between this country, Belgium and herself. It is becoming clear, however, that she will not get such an alliance. It is said, we do not know on what authority, that Mr. Chamber- lain at one time favoured this plan but found the Cabinet opposed to it. Our Foreign Policy is therefore com- mitted to attempting to get France to accept something in the nature of the German offer. It is conceivable that she might do this were the guarantee extended to Eastern Europe and were Germany to come into the League of Nations unconditionally. But the first of these at any rate is a condition which the British Government will find it very hard to concede.
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