NEWS OF THE WEEK
THOUGH nothing specific has been revealed at the time of writing regarding the conversations between Col. Beck and British Ministers there seems good reason to believe that satisfactory understandings have been reached, on the basis of a reciprocal pact of mutual defence between Great Britain and Poland, with which it may be hoped Rumania will in some shape or form associate herself. The situation regarding Russia is more difficult, as for various reasons the Poles, and possibly the Russians also, lack enthusiasm for a direct agreement between Warsaw and Moscow. But that does not exclude the possibility of a direct agreement between Britain, France and Russia, still less (as the Yournal de Moscou seems to suggest) a firm understand- ing between those Powers, and perhaps others, binding them as among themselves to apply to the full, as members of the League of Nations, all the provisions of the Covenant relat- ing to peaceful settlements of disputes and mutual support against any aggression. Mr. Chamberlain has been driven back by Herr Hitler to the collective security policy and is committing himself to it without reserve. One step must be taken at a time, and present steps are being wisely taken, but the ultimate goal is a European security system, and the shortest and most effective way of achieving that is to return to the League policy which in the hands of Sir Austen Chamberlain, M. Briand and Dr. Stresemann was so successful and so efficient. The League is today only a truncated League, but all the European States which find themselves compelled to unite for their. own defence are members of it.
