4 OCTOBER 1935, Page 2

Diplomacy and Sport Diplomatic shooting-parties have been prominent in Germany

in the past week, and General Combos, the Hungarian Prime Minister, is said to have added to his primary activities the slaughter of a stag. General GOinbkis reached Berlin towards the end of last week and during his visit (he returned to Budapest oh Tuesday) saw everyone of account, from Herr Hitler downwards. Simultaneously General Milch, Secretary of State at the German. Air Ministry, was visiting Budapest. In addition Herr von Ribbentrop, Herr Hitler's Ambassador- at-large, has gone shooting in Poland. This semi- official diplomatic activity certainly means something, but it is not clear what. An air-pact between Germany, Hungary and Poland is talked of openly. That need not in itself cause alarm. But behind it is more irre- sponsible talk of a rapprochement between a revisionist bloc of States, Germany, Hungary, Poland and with Russia as the chief object of German hostility;. On that it may be observed that Poland is not a revisionist State, and Italy only so far as it suits her. But frietion between Poland and Russia is continuous, and Italy has obvious reasons for seeking friends. • Meanwhile the negotiations regarding a Western 'Air Pact and an Eastern. Security Pact appear to have lapsed con"- pletely. Even in the midst of other preoceupations—;- or because of themdiscussions with Germany should be resumed.

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