A SUMMARY OF THE SITUATION

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 148, 18 March 1940, Page 10

A SUMMARY OF THE SITUATION

Europe is busy with rumour. In the lull after the RussoFinnish war diplomatic moves arc being given close attention, and various commentators, inspired largely by the presence in Rome ul the U.S. Assistant Secretary of Stalc. Mr. Sumner Welles, arc forecasting important developments. The forecasts, however, differ widely. They range from a belief that a new peace offensive is imminent Io the sensational theory that Germany is endeavouring to arrange a sort of tripartite agreement for a distribution of Europe "east of the Rhine” between Russia, Italy and herself. It does not seem unlikely that Hitler is resolved upon another peace campaign in the hope (as one London writer puts it) of “getting out of the war with the spoils intact. ’ He may be either planning direct diplomatic action, or counting on and preparing fot a lead by the United States after Mr. Welles returns and reports to Washington. President Roosevelt in a weekend radio broadcast remarked that the world was seeking a moral basis for peace., But he added this: “It cannot be a real peace if it fails to recognize brotherhood —if the fruit of it is oppression, starvation or cruelty, or il human life is to be dominated by armed camps.” In other words, it cannot be a Nazi peace. Rome publicists who have been made loquacious by the arrival of Mr. Welles, his audience with King Victor Emmanuel and his interview with Count Ciano, are discussing th'e supposed peace offensive freely. The recent visit to Italy of the German Foreign Minister. Ribbentrop, is now being seen by them as the opening gambit of the offensive. The tone of British comment generally suggests that no peace overtures of the sort Berlin is likely to offer at this juncture will be entertained for a moment at Westminster, lite French, so far. have not commented at all. The other theory of coming events —that based on the proposed Moscow-Berlin-Rome agreement—is advanced by a correspondent of a London weekly. He reports that the Nazi spokesmen are promising "startling events” this week, and goes on to describe the deal Hitler would like to enter into with Russia and Italy: Germany to have Rumania. Italy to have Yugoslavia, and the. Soviet to gobble up the small Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and Finland as well?) The foregoing bears plain evidence of scaremongering and is chiefly interesting as showing the state of Europe s weekend nerves. The Press'of Moscow is adding its quota by expressing certain)} that the Allies intend to break the war stalemate by launching thcii Near Eastern armies “against the Balkans.” Finland’s peace treaty with Russia has been ratified by the Finnish Diet, the voting being 145 to 3. It is estimated that the three months of invasion cost the republic £118.000,000, half of which represents air-raid damage and a quarter loss of resource' in ceded areas. * * « * * In tlie largest- enemy air raid (o date, a number <»i naval and civilian casualties were caused at Scapa Flow on Saturday. One ship was hit and damaged. The Royal Air Force has carried out a night flight over Polish territory.