Great Britain's Attitude

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21729, 11 March 1936, Page 10

Great Britain's Attitude

Mr Eden's review of the situation created by Germany's military occupation of the Rhineland zone is both realistic and hopeful. He admits frankly that, by her unilateral repudiation of a treaty freely negotiated, Germany has made it difficult for the world to have confidence in any future engagement into which the German Government may enter. Itis clear, however, that this consideration will not prevent the British Government from ax-

amining carefully Germany's proposals for a new Rhineland pact and a new eastern pact and also her declaration of willingness to return to the League of Nations. Particularly important is Mr. Eden's revelation that there are no conditions attached to this last offer. Germany wants the League Covenant separated from the Treaty of Versailles, a reform which ought to have been undertaken long ago, and she expects her claim to colonial possessions to receive sympathetic consideration; but she is willing to negotiate on these matters after entering the League. It will no doubt be asked by French critics of British policy what point there is 'in admitting that Herr Hitler has shown himself untrustworthy and then taking his proposals for guaranteeing European peace at their face value. The answer is that if Herr Hitler is not sincere in his professed desire for a rapprochement with France and for a peaceful settlement of Europe's problems, it is most necessary that his insincerity should be exposed. Up to the present all Herr Hitler's treaty violations have been designed to remove from Germany the stigma of guilt and inferiority imposed on her by the peace treaties and have accordingly been wholeheartedly approved by the German people and not very strongly condemned by the rest of the world. France excluded. Even the occupation of the Rhineland has not in itself aroused any great indignation in Great Britain, where it has never been supposed that the demilitarisation of the Rhineland could be permanent. If, however, It can be shown that Herr Hitler has no real desire for peace and is in fact launching his country on a career of aggrandisement which can only end in a European war, the German people will support him less enthusiastically and the world will be less complaisant. And the only way to show that this is the case, if it is the case, is to take him at his word.