SIR J. SIMON'S MISSION

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 49, 27 February 1935, Page 9

SIR J. SIMON'S MISSION

PRESS ON VISIT TO BERLIN

EXTENSION UEGED

(Brillsli Official Wireless) (Received February 27, noon.)

RUGBY, February 26.

The statement of the Foreign Secretary (Sir John Simon) in the House of Commons yesterday that the British Government had accepted the invitation of the German Government for the exchange of views on all matters referred to in the recent Anglo-French communique and that he would himself proceed to Berlin shortly is welcomed, in the British Press. "The Times" says that the decision for Sir John Simon to visit Berlin was taken by Cabinet at a special meeting yesterday. Ministers agreed that the intimation of the German Government that they consider that every point raised in the joint Anglo-French statement would be examined at the meeting between the British and German Ministers justified them in accepting the invitation, and it is now expected that Sir John Simon will, leave London for Germany towards the middle of next week. Whether the Foreign Secretary will "go alone or be accompanied by Mr. Anthony Eden, Lord Privy Seal, has not yet been decided, and much may clepend upon whether the visit to Berlin.is to be followed by a visit to Moscow, the question of which, it will be recalled, is still under consideration. "The Times" considers, however, that it may be regarded as practically' certain that Sir John Simon will eventually visit Moscow and probably Warsaw and Prague as well on the return journey, and it comments: "Such a comprehensive series of visits, is easily justified at this exceptional moment in European history when British influence stands high arid when that influence may possibly be decisively exercised in uniting all countries behind the plan outlined in the AngloFrench communique.". The "Daily Telegraph" expresses 7the conviction that the Berlin visit will be followed by a further visit to Moscow, Warsaw, and, .possibly, Prague, but anticipates that before proceeding to Moscow the Foreign Secretary would return to London to report to Cabinet on his conversations with the German Government., ; ' '.", ■ The' "Morning Post" observes that the problem of security in Eastern Europe, which is at' present endangered by the suspicion between Germany and Russia, is of supreme im-, -portance to the Western Powers and was therefore brought within the order of the general European settlement envisaged by the Franco-British communique. It adds: "Britain, by virtue of its ; acknowledged detachment, is peculiarily fitted to dispatch-3 a statesman in the role of mediator between Berlin; and Moscow."