HIGH HOPES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 226, 23 September 1936, Page 7

HIGH HOPES.

KING EDWARD'S TOUR. Hint of Solid Work Done for World Peace. " BRILLIANT DIPLOMACY." United Press Association. —Copyright. LONDON, September 18. King Edward's return to England brought to a conclusion a eruiss which began as a holiday and developed' into one of the most remarkable tours a British monarch has ever completed. Sparse reports of the King's journeyings told little more than the places he visited and the people he had seen. It has since transpired that his meetings with monarclis and leaders may be epoch-making. t Accompanied only by an Equerry, a member of Scotland Yard, and a ftew personal friends and without any elaborate guard of troops, King Edward walked where Dictators feared to tread, moving fearlessly in the Balkan capitals where for years dangerous incidents have been common-place. The King was not inspired by Ministers or by senior Whitehall officials. He may ultimately be found to have been sounding the European atmosphere in a way that no politician would dare to. It is even murmured that as an astute student of affairs, His Majesty has been delicately handling a job at which the statesmen have thus far failed —namely, the pacification of Europe. Fervent Speeches for Peace. HiS speeches since his accession have been fervently for peace. Everywhere it is admitted that nobody is better fitted to lay the foundations of British friendship. His tour systematically covered countries lately wooed by Germany. British monarchs rigorously avoid politics. Consequently King Edward's journevings possess no direct political motives, but observers, knowing his initiative and realising the achievements of the European Dictatorships, find deep significance in his recent contacts. All his visits' were a tremendous personal success. Kings and Dictators have been at his feet. No Briton has ever known such a triumph in Turkey, where warships' guns blazed salutes and the usually undemonstrative masses shouted weicomes and good wishes. King ! Edward's relations towards Kemal Ataturk were noticeably cordial throughout, the Turkish Dictator himself, with a hearty pull, helping King Edward ashore from a speed boat at Istanbul (formerly Constantinople) quay. King Boris of Bulgaria walked the streets with him and farewelled him at a special train. Similar spontaneous demonstrations of admiration occurred in other capitals. Europe is now wondering what will be the sequel to this "brilliant diplomacy."

COLONIAL DEMANDS. ANSWER TO GERMAN VIEWS. LONDON, September 18. British Ministers declined to comment on Herr Hitler's demand for colonies. The claim that Germany needs colonies for raw materials is answered by German official statistics, which show that immediately before the war her colonies yielded only & to 1 per cent of Germany's total imports, and 3 per cent of such materials as rubber, tin and copra. It is admitted that lack of colonies confronts Germany with exchange difficulties, which, however, are largely created by her vast armament expenditure, which is sapping her finances. The Conservative party conference, which opens on October 2, will consider the subject of colonies. It is expected that the conference will ask the Government to make a definite declaration that it will not consider the surrender of British mandated territories. "The Times" comments: "Germany is being educated to believe that the possession of colonial territory is essential to her economic survival and honour as a great State. "Germany appealed to the sword in 1914 and consequently lost her colonies. Some day the system of mandates may be widely extended. Meanwhile, .British opinion will never be willing seriously to consider it except in relation to a general settlement, and in return for practical renunciation by Germany of war as an instrument of policy. "A war mentality is feeing fostered in Germany. To make concessions to it to-day would merely invite larger demands to-morrow."