Actually, in view of the two memoranda of the present
week, it would be easier for this country to make a disarmament - agreement with Germany than with France, for the new German communication contains no stipulations which could not be either accepted at once or dismissed in a reasonable _spirit. It is true, and unfortunate, that Germany is heavily increasing her service estimates, and the explanations she gives of that development are not convincing. But if Herr Hitler's government means what it says when it asks simply for defensive short-range aeroplanes, without bombers, agrees to keep the semi-military formations completely demilitarized and accepts the postponement of disarmament by other Powers for five years, after which Germany will claim equality with them at whatever level they may fix—then this can only be described as a very encouraging development, particularly as in other respects Germany accepts the British draft of January 29th. France has some justification for demand- ing that the discussions be now taken back to Geneva —private talks between capitals cannot go on for ever— but it is to be hoped that they will be carried on rather in the spirit of the German memorandum than of the French.
