M. Laval's Policy The line the new French Foreign Minister,
M. Laval, is pursuing is interesting and hopeful. He is a member of a- Government whose policy it is to follow in all essentials in the footsteps of its predecessor, and the process of edging away from the Poincarist traditions of M. Barthou is a little delicate. That, no doubt, explains the in- sistence the Foreign. Minister felt it necessary to lay, in his recent speech in the Chamber, on the inviolability of European frontiers, meaning, presumably, that theie. can be no question of altering them by violent mean's. The appeal to Herr Hitler to join in stabilizing peace had a ring of sincerity, and M. Laval has shown by his moderate attitude in regard to the Saar that he is ready to contribute his full share to the building of a bridge. The same characteristics have marked his activities this week at Geneva, where he has been applying himself diligently—in addition to informal discussions • on the Eastern Pact proposal—to keeping the controversy between Jugoslavia and Hungary within reasonable bounds. If, when he carries out his predecessor's frustrated intention and visits Signor Mussolini at Rome, he can get any of the long-standing differences between France and Italy cleared up he will have contributed considerably to the restoration of confidence in Europe. But what is most important is to reach an understanding on security with this country.
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