News of the Week
IT is clear that a new development in the disarmament 1 discussions is at hand. The Franco-German conver- sations are getting nowhere, and now the Germans are hinting. broadly, as the French. have alWays done a good deal more broadly, that a statement - of Great Britain's views is very much to be desired. It is impossible that the Cabinet can resist such solicitation much longer. What would have been the effect of a clear statement of the British position months ago no one can prove conclusively now. -The absence of it certainly did no good, for 'no real progresS has been made without it for all.the'taik:- And all the reasonable probabilities are that it would have carried Europe• a good deal further than the point it has reached today after interminable discussion. HoWeVer that may be, the attitude now adopted by Germany as well as France shows that the door is still open, . and unless Mr. MacDonald and Sir John Simon desire to sec this country abdicate its position as a Great Power—which there is no reason at all for believing—they cannot fail to seize the opportunity offered. * * * .
