NEWS OF THE WEEK
THE reception of the Anglo-Italian Agreement on the Continent seems generally to reflect prepossessions rather than any new judgement on merits. The Government- tied Presses of Italy and. Germany eagerly welcome it—in each case opining (with how much sincerity, is another question) that it makes no difference to the Rome-Berlin axis. The Russian, Press, also Government-tied, denounces it. In France the Conservative papers support it from pro-Fascist motives. Many, probably most, French Radicals do so from a feeling that it may opportunely relax the inter- national strain ; while among Socialists and Communists the tendency is to regard it as a question of weakness and betrayal. In the United States the commonest reaction has been approving, but in a rather tepid degree. President Roosevelt's statement, that his Government " does not attempt to pass judgement on the political features," but "has seen the conclusion of an agreement with sympathetic interest because of its proof of the value of peaceful negotiations " fairly represents it. The Australian and South African Govern- ments express more enthusiasm. The immediate concrete result has been a demarche by France to Italy to obtain a similar agreement. This, of course, was the sequel for which Mr. Chamberlain hoped, and the coming visit of M. Daladier and M. Bonnet to London will be utilised to confirm and advance it.
