* * * * The Disarmament Efforts - • .
The Prime Minister's strategy at Geneva is something which only success can justify. It is, no doubt, arguable that the Disarmament -Conference is in such straits that nothing but swift and drastic action can save it.- the statesmen of Europe, men of the calibre Of . Paul- Boneour and Dr. Benes, have been grappling with the problem at close quarters for months. Various plans have been put forward, and a committee of the conference was appointed long ago to collate them. In those circum- stances the arrival of the British Prime Minister from London, and his decision to put suddenly before the con- ference a new plan of 43 typewritten pages (no details are available as these words are being written) designed apparently to supersede everything the delegates are at present considering, are moves which obviously need to be carried out with a great deal of tact. To create the impression of an eleventh-hour descent by a deus ex machiva would be unfortunate, and it may be rather difficult to avoid. At the same time Mr. MacDonald has been able to form his judgements on the spot, and if his tactics are crowned with success all questioning of his policy will be effectively silenced. Of the wisdom of his visit to Rome there can be no sort of doubt. It was essentially the right step to take and great and lasting good may come of it. * * * 40.
