The negotiations for the holding of a Conference ' of
Ministers representing the chief Allies and Germany to discuss the Security Pact at Locarno on October 5th, have proceeded satisfactorily. The German Cabinet decided on September 24th to accept the invitation and have discussed it with the Federal Prime Ministers and the Committee on Foreign Affairs. Italy will be represented, but not by Signor Mussolini. Mr. Austen Chamberlain in a fresh Note to Germany refers to three points raised by her : (1) Her reception in the League of Nations ; this, he says, is a matter for the League and not the Conference to deal with. It is no fault of Germany that she fears the League as dorninated•by her ex-enemies, but if she is to get any future advantage, we agree that she must trust the League and not ask beforehand for privileges connected with Article XVI. of the Covenant where her peculiar difficulties are obvious. (2) Her admission of War-guilt ; this again is no concern of the Conference. We -wish that she could pocket her pride and leave this question to history. (8) The evacuation of the Cologne area ; this, yet .again, is no business of the Conference. But we confess to an uneasiness about the position since we cannot feel that the matter of dis- armament on which it hinges has been treated with candour, much less with the statesmanlike breadth of view which should have been possible.