NEWS OF THE WEEK
HARDLY less important than Herr Hitler's speech is the reception it meets with throughout Europe. On the whole the response has been good. The con- viction that, as Mr: Baldwin 'put it in the Rouse of Commons,hthere-is some light " in the speech is genera- I. In Franc0 the habitual home of scepticism regarding all German ntentions, Pertinax sounds a note of hostility so inevitAle that it is immediately' discounted, but opinion generally appears ready to await developments in an attitude of some hope. Italy objects only to the references to revision of treaties, but no attempt by Italy or any other country to stereotype European frontiers for ever can lead to anything but explosion. Poland, conscious of benefits accruing from her ten-year agreement with Germany, is on the whole favourable. Only Austria seems seriously discontented, though Herr Hitler's assurance that Germany seeks neither annexation nor an Anschluss is as conciliatory a declara- tion as could be hoped for. The danger now is that valuable time may be lost. Herr Hitler's speech has unquestionably cleared the air. Mr. Baldwin's references' to it in the House of Commons on Wednesday have, as might be expected, been well received in Germany. At this juncture Great Britain may have a 'decisive role to play as mediator and conciliator and no two men could exercise that function on her behalf with greater hope of success than Mr. '.Baldwin and Mr. Eden. The Lord President, in particular, whether in his present or a more exalted office, has the opportunity of doing signal service to the cause of European peace.
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