Germany and the Locarno Powers The prospect of the meeting
of the five Locarno Powers recedes. The idea of the meeting, it will be recalled, arose out of Herr Hitler's proclamation and action of March 7th. There has, therefore, already been regret- table delay, and the further delay now necessitated is due to Germany's desire to explore the ground more fully diplomatically before the Five Powers meet. On that it may be observed that the first attempt to clear the ground diplomatically, the dispatch of a British questionnaire to Germany in May, has to this day met with no response from Berlin, and that if Germany had not left herself without an Ambassador in London for nearly half a year, an effective understanding between the two capitals could have been reached much earlier. As things are, it cannot be assumed with any certainty that the conference will assemble at all. That depends on the form Germany's reluctance to discuss any Eastern European question at the conference takes. The other Powers can perfectly well agree to deal first of all with Western Europe, but it was Herr Hitler's own suggestion that with this as starting-point the whole peace of Europe should be taken into consideration, and neither France nor Britain is likely to agree that the Loearno conversations shall in no case touch any question affecting eastern or south-eastern States. * * * *
Previous page
