NEWS OF THE WEEK
THOUGH the Prime Minister's visit to Herr Hitler has put most of the events of the past week in a new proportion they have their importance and demand record. Three have been outstanding. The first was the issue on Saturday of the semi-official statement defining the attitude of the British Government, indicating that in the British view the Czechoslovak Government's latest proposals provided a fair and reasonable basis for negotiation, and sounding the plain warning that if Germany did attack Czechoslovakia she must not count on a short or limited campaign ; doubt of the effect of that declaration, which was warmly welcomed in Paris, was due to doubt whether its full import was ever allowed to reach Herr Hider. The second event was Herr Hitler's speech at Nuremberg, which is discussed in a leading article on another page. The third was the series of concerted risings in Sudeten- deutschland, resulting in the death of four Sudetendeutsch and nine Czechs, followed by a declaration by Prague of emergency measures, in five districts in the disturbed area. To this Herr Henlein replied by immediately breaking off the negotiations his lieutenants were conducting with Dr. Hodza, the Czech Prime Minister. The measures taken were effective in restoring order, and if it can be maintained the prospect will be considerably less sombre.
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