A BRIGHTER OUTLOOK

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 60, 4 December 1937, Page 10

A BRIGHTER OUTLOOK

There is every indication in the news from overseas during the week that the tension in international affairs is becoming a little easier. Although the precise nature of the recent conversations between Viscount Halifax and Herr Hitler has not yet been disclosed, it is evident from Ministerial replies to questions in the British House of Commons that the exchange of views has been of constructive value. Conversations just concluded between the British and French Governments appear to have had the two-fold result of reassuring the latter concerning the future of the entente, and the aims of British foreign policy, and of establishing agreement on the line of approach to the questions raised by Flerr Hitler in his talks with Viscount Halifax. . In Spain, although the problem of the withdrawal of foreign auxiliaries and the extension of belligerent rights to General Franco is no nearer practical solution, the situation seems to be reaching a stage at which more effective negotiation may be possible. All these, of course, are merely surface indications, but even with this qualification, they are, by comparison with the signs not so long ago, encouraging enough to inspire the hope that the period of acute tension has passed. There appears to be a greater readiness on the part of all concerned to face the factors of European discontent in a realistic spirit. The Sino-Japanese difficulty at the moment is beyond the scope of practical politics in international diplomacy. Japan is determined to go her own way, encouraged in this policy by the preoccupation of the Western Powers in more immediate problems. Effective intervention in the Far East does not seem possible until a new spirit of harmony and co-operation prevails in Europe, and the way is cleared for greater freedom of action in the remoter field. First things first appears to be the keynote of British foreign policy. Ihe primary requirement is the safety and security of the Commonwealth, assisted by a strong defence system. European appeasement is next in order. There is no question that the improvement in the European situation is due in large measure to the impression created on the Continent by the British rearmament programme. Rearmament in Europe has, in certain instances, had an aggressive objective; in others, activity has resulted from the fear of aggression. British policy, however, has been two-fold —to resist aggression if attempted upon the Commonwealth, and to restrain aggressive policies provocative of war until such time as the forces of peace are able to recover the lost ground and re-establish their prestige and influence. Only with greatly augmented armed strength behind it could this policy be successful. As long as Britain’s strength was at an inferior level her influence in diplomacy was commensurately weak, and this weakness in strength and diplomacy was a direct encouragement to aggressive nations to develop their policies. Now that the damage due to mistaken policy has been repaired, and Britain’s strength restored to a point at which there is less need for anxiety as to the future, the atmosphere of the European situation has become noticeably calmer.

Possibly the most impressive aspect of the British rearmament programme has been the ease with which it is being financed. Other nations have been carrying out their programmes under conditions of economic stress which have imposed hardships on their peoples. In Britain, rearmament has been superimposed upon a sound fiational economy and prosperous conditions. Another fact which cannot have failed to impress others is that the British democracies throughout the Commonwealth have freely and readily accepted the additional burden of rearmament, while in the dictatorship countries the burden has been imposed without reference to public opinion. Finally, a general impression is being created that Britain desires peace, but nut peace at any price. She seeks peace with justice all round, as far as justice is humanly possible.

One interesting feature of the new situation which has been the subject of considerable comment in the British Press is the emergence of the German colonial question as a subject for serious discussion. This subject has hitherto been ruled out on various grounds. People arc now asking how far it may be practicable to go by way of concessions to the German claim for territorial appeasement. The indications are that British policy would be sympathetic if this question were linked with disarmament and a return to the ideal of peace by negotiation and arbitration under the auspices of a reconstructed League of Nations divorced from the Treaty of Versailles, which ill-starred document is more or less a corpse. If the difficulties attached to European appeasement are to be successfully attacked there must be concessions all round. The spirit of conciliation and concession, however, will have to be more manifest than it is at present. I hough there is ground for hope, it would be a mistake, therefore, to build too optimistically on favourable signs which may have but a temporary significance. Britain cannot afford to relax her vigilance.