OUTLOOK IMPROVES

If an amicable and mutually satisfactory settlement of the Danaig and Polish Corridor questions could be arranged between Germany and Poland by normal negotiation, at least one danger to the peace of Europe would be removed. ' The Prime Minister (Mr. Chamberlain) was asked in the House of Commons on. Monday whether, in view of the danger to the peace of the world involved in the present state of affairs in the Danzig area, he would impress on Poland the necessity for satisfying British public opinion that every reasonable proposal for an equitable settlement of these questions would be welcomed by her. As Mr. Chamberlain pointed out in his reply, Colonel Beck's speech on Friday last made it clear that these questions were already under discussion between Poland and Germany before the date of Britain's assurance to Poland. The Polish Foreign Minister in his speech placed j no obstacle before a resumption of negotiations, and the initiative is J now with Germany. Beyond the circulation of an official comment on j points in Colonel Beck's address nothing appears to have been done by Germany and the "dispute remains in suspense. Under these circumstances the Pope, according to news received today, has approached, through Apostolic delegates, the principal Powers concerned— Britain, France, Italy, Germany, and Poland—with the suggestion of a conference between these five Powers for the settlement of the Danzig dispute. The details have not been made public, but the reception of the; proposal in Paris is reported as. France contending that the normal diplomatic channels are still open. Herr Hitler is said to be "not antagonistic" to the proposal of mediation, but such a conference as is suggested is regarded as "most unlikely." The omission of Russia from the list of Powers invited to compose the conference, no doubt designed to satisfy Germany and Italy, would militate against success, as Russia is closely interested in the fortunes of her chief western neighbour. In the meantime Germany's northern neighbours, the important group of Scandinavian States— Sweden, Norway, Denmark; and Finland—held a conference of their own at Stockholm to discuss the German proposal for a non-aggression pact with each. According to a cable message yesterday, the Swedish and Norwegian Press has been generally insistent that acceptance of such pacts would be contrary to the policy of neutrality followed in the Great War. Finland was reported to be more favourable to a pact. The position of these northern States with Germany in command of the Baltic and an immediate neighbour of Denmark, is decidedly delicate, and Nazi influence has been strong, particularly in Denmark, whiph has been constrained to make many concessions to Germany, notably in a partial censorship of the Press. But the Scandinavian nations have/ always held strongly to their liber,4 ties, and the latest message from Stockholm via London states t'Aat the Scandinavian Foreign Ministers, as a result of their conference, have rejected Germany's offer of a; nonaggression pact.. On the others hand, the small Baltic republics of;." Latvia and Estonia are said to have/notified their acceptance. Negotiations for the strengthening of the front by the co-operation of Russia and Turkey seem to be progressing favourably, and that tifoe prospects for peaco are better is shown by the lowering of war ri&fcs on shipping.