NEW ELEMENT OF HOPE

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 13, 16 July 1934, Page 9

NEW ELEMENT OF HOPE

PRESS APPROVES PEAK

MUTUAL GUARANTEE PACT

ALL EYES ON GERMANY NOW

• (British Official Wireless.) (Received July 16, 11 a.m.)

RUGBY, June 14.

.In^ concluding yesterday's Foreign Affairs debate, during which Sir John Simon.had made his important statement in regard to the proposed East.em European, mutual guarantee pact, Mr. Anthony Eden, Lord Privy Seal, expressed the view that the result of the recent London conversations oi» that subject would be "to give a new element of hope to an anxious situation."

Thisview seems to have been >idely shared both in the House .of Commons and in tho Press. In fact,'one paper, the "News-Chronicle," remarks that the policy" expounded by the Foreign Secretary was supported by the House of Commons "with a warmth and real unanimity which, it has not shown for many a long year."

The-newspaper .gives its own warm support to-the policy. In particular, it notes Sir John Simon's statement that | the new policy implies the partieipaj.tion on equal terms of Germany, and adds: "To secure this ought not to be difficult. Britain has agreed, France* has agreed, Russia lias agreed, and Sir John was able to read Signo'r Mussolini's emphatic assent to , the new policy. On what grounds'should Germany stand aloof from an agreement which offers to her exactly tho! same honourable security that it offers to France, to Poland, and to Eussia?" Dealing with the same point, the "Manchester Guardian" says: *-'Germany, cannot with any show, of reasoit stand outside a.pact which is by definition equal-for both sides. If, like the Soviets, she should make tho journey to Geneva, it cannot in any sense be thought a journey to" Canossa. If she can be convinced that there is no iutrigne against • her,. and that the pro-' posals are honestly intended, she may, like Italy, perceive'that she gains nothing by refusing, to accept them."

SYSTEM OF INSURANCE.

"The Times" thinks that the schema undoubtedly connotes in Sir John. Simon's words an "extension of the system of insurance" and the paper places emphasis on. Signor Mussolini's remark that it offers fresh possibilities in the field of limitation or reduction of armaments and further implies a recognition of equality of rights. It believes that from the beginnings of regional agreements a general system of security may gradually be established under which a reduction of national armaments will almost automatically .follow.: ...-:; ;■

The. "Daily Herald1' says: "In no circumstances can any further weakening of the League bo tolerated and by .this,tost every proposal for-regional pacts must be judged. The assurances now given suggest that the proposed Eastern Locarno --;■ does ; satisfactorily pass this acid test'and that it will genuinely be a reinforcement and-not a weakening of the League's authority. Therefore, the Labour Party will welcome it." ■. :

. the "Daily Telegraph" regards the' proposal as a "more favourable turn to the international-"wheel." :"■ .; .

ATTITUDE OF GERMANY.

That the German Chancellor, Herr Hitler,, refrained from all reference to the ,pact proposal- during his Beichstag speech last-night encourages tho hope that the scheme the outline of which was communicated to the German Government on Thursday by the British. Ambassador in Berlin, is already undergoing the thorough examination which.' was then promised.

Meanwhile, German Press comment seems influenced by subjective suspicions on the pact proposal in its. original form, rather, than by the objecitive analysis of the scheme as it emerged from the London conversations. - This preliminary-reaction is understood and discounted, here, /where it is : beJioVed/that aftef' time has/permitted fuller consideration in the light of Sir John Simon's analysis and Signor Mussolini's approval,- the views so. far expressed will be considerably modified