The news that, substantial progress has already been made in
the negotiations with regard to an Air Pact is eminently satisfactory. That was essentially the first step to take, and both Herr Hitler and our own Govern- ment appear to. realize that. On the whole the inter- national exchanges of the past week have improved the atmosphere,in spite of-one- unpleasant element—the outburst in the Italian Press against this country after the Geneva agreement on Abyssinia. That, however, is a passing ebullition and, apart from certain grave and indefensible misstatements as to British military movements on the Abyssinian frontier, need not be taken too seriously. Mr. Baldwin's Albert Hall speech, with its advocacy of an Air Pact, has given satisfaction in Germany, and it may be hoped that the elucidation of Herr Hitler's speech which the British Ambassador in Berlin has been instructed to secure will confirm the impression that the Chancellor's statement provides a sound basis for negotiation. Mr. Baldwin's hopes of Anglo-American co-operation will be universally shared, but the tendency to build too much on that prospect has been put in its right place by Mr. Eden, who, while in full agreement with the Lord President, pointed out pertinently to a Conservative gathering on Monday that this country is in Europe whether it likes it or not, and its first business is to do what it can to get European problems solved. The truth of that is incontestable.
