NEWS OF THE WEEK
THE two comments Mr. Chamberlain felt called on to make in the House of Commons on Tuesday on Herr Hitler's speech the previous evening were that the speech did not seem the utterance of a man who was about to plunge Europe in crisis, but that before a relaxation of ten- sion could be brought about there must be deeds—in the form of a limitation of armaments—as well as words. That is entirely true, and there is little sign that we have reached the stage of such deeds yet. The next few weeks or months must inevitably be critical. Our own defences are growing in strength rapidly, and so simultaneously is the reluctance of the German and Italian peoples to be let into a disastrous and unjustifiable war ; but that very fact may tempt the dictators to strike a blow while they believe the balance of force to be in their favour. Mr. Chamberlain on Tuesday reaffirmed with emphasis his belief in the sincerity of Signor Mussolini's pledge to withdraw his troops from Spain when the Spanish War is over. If that confidence proves justified one cause for serious anxiety will be removed; but even if the Italian troops—and the German technicians—leave Spain an alliance or some looser arrangement, such as association in the Anti-Comintern Pact, between a new Spanish Govern- ment and the dictatorships would create a situation highly disturbing to States whose vital communications run through the Mediterranean. The closing phases of the Spanish War may be the most critical for Europe.
