BRITISH POLITICAL SETS.

Evening Star, Issue 22989, 21 June 1938, Page 8

BRITISH POLITICAL SETS.

No one outside the Fatherland will attach much seriousness to the report, sent to his newspaper by a German correspondent in London, that there is a British political set, allied with high officials, that desires war with Germany. This is apparently the opposite to the “ Cliveden set,” which has been much discussed recently in American papers. The Cliveden set was supposed to be composed of a group of statesmen who met at week-end parties at Cliveden, the country home of Viscount Astor, husband of Lady Astor and owner of the ‘ Observer.’ Among those who were said to be included in it were Lord Lothian (formerly, as secretary to Mr Lloyd George, Mr Philip Kerr, and afterwards editor of the ‘ Round Table ’), Lord Londonderry, Lord Halifax, Sir Samuel Hoare, and Sir John Simon. The principle on which they were supposed to act was that Communist Russia was a greater peril to the world to-day than Nazi Germany, and that therefore there must be a rapprochement with Germany whatever happened to Russia. Lord Halifax’s visit to Berlin was supposed to have been planned on a certain date at Cliveden, and this project, it was said, drove Mr Eden to threaten resignation. But there is no Cliveden sot. Viscount Astor has explained that for years ho and his wife have entertained in the country members of all parties (including Communists), members of all faiths, of all countries, and of all interests. At the week-end when the Berlin decision was alleged to have infuriated Mr Eden, that statesman was himself one of the guests. During another week-end to which nefarious machinations were attributed the house at Cliveden was closed and Lord and Lady Astor in the United States. The reports, it was explained, had their origin in Communist journals, one of which was named. 11 The last thing which Communism desires is an appeasement between Britain and Italy or between Britain and Germany. Communists have, therefore, attacked and misrepresented anyone who aimed at replacing international suspicion, (car, and ill-will by a sense of goodwill and confidence." l.ord Astor makes his own position plain in saying; “Lady Astor and I are no more Fascists today than we were Communists a few years ago when we supported the tfide

agreement with the Soviet, nor do we sympathise to-day with Communism because of a desire to preserve good relationships with the Russian dictatorship.” Lord Londonderry has just published a book, ' Ourselves and Germany,’ in which he explores the ground that might lead to a better understanding with that country, but admits finding it difficult, owing to the impossibility of discovering, up to this stage, what the precise limits of Germany’s ambitions may be. No argument -or analysis—could read less like that of an extremist, Fascist or of any other kind. But if a faction must be invented that is presumed to be plotting obscurely in favour of Germany, it is inevitable that another faction should be found to balance it. British politicians are no doubt divided in their opinions as to the best way to peace, but the allegation that Mr Churchill, Mr Eden, or anyone else desires war with Germany is ridiculous on the face of it. Mr Eden was ready to make pacts with anybody, though he did not agree with the time chosen by Mr Chamberlain for the pact with Italy. It was inevitable that the forcible annexation of Austria should cause doubts and fears of Germany to be increased, but that was something different from a desire for war on the part of British statesmen. For assertions much less mischievous than that of the ‘ Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung’s ’ correspondent British correspondents have been expelled from Germany, and responsibility should bo exercised upon the other side.