SHAPING EUROPE’S DESTINY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 18 January 1939, Page 6

SHAPING EUROPE’S DESTINY

THE British Prime Minister’s ameliorative efforts appear to be having satisfactory results. In the , first place there was the Munich meeting, which brought the Four Great Powers improved relationships, and paved the way to better understanding between them. Now has come Mr Chamberlain’s visit to Rome, and the renewal of good understanding with the Italian Dictator. To Italian pressmen the Duce has said among other things, “We have established better contact, and I think' we shall see the fruits of it later,’’ and the Italian Foreign Minister said of the meeting, “I am most satisfied.” Moreover, the British Ministers (Mr Chamberlain and Lord Halifax) “were much impressed I with the frankness and cordiality I displayed by the Duce in the course of the conversations, and by his emphatic assurances of his earnest desire for the restoration and preservation of world-peace.” That earnest desire is supported by the fact that “Signor Mussolini authorised Mr Chamberlain to tell the House of Commons that Italy formally confirms her promise to respect the integrity of Spain, the Balearics, and the Spanish Colonies.” The great object of Britain’s foreign policy is the maintenance of peace, which policy Mr Chamberlain has whole-heartedly sup- ! ported in his negotiations first i with Germany, and now in Rome. [With France he has strengthened the good understanding which has been in existence for a considerable period. Such indeed are the friendly contacts which he has established with the principal European Governments, that nothing of a serious political nature can occur on the Continent without his views being taken into consideration, and influencing . decisions. The London “Times” has pointed out that “Mr Chamberlain, by his successive visits to the Continent, made the desire for peace articulate where it was not articulate before,” which means that by his conciliatory nature, geniality, and fixity of purpose the British Premier has exerted his personal influence with the Continent’s principal political figures for the upholding of peace, and the settlement of international differences by consultation and agreement. It would be too much to say,that the British Premier is in the position of an arbiter in the affairs of Europe, but it is safe to say that no significant event can take place there without his being afforded the opportunity of exercising his opinion with a view to shaping it. in a greater or lesser degree. 1 hat is a good thing for Europe, whose internecine differences are so numerous and so complex that, if it lacked the stabilising influence of Britain, it would appear to have small chance of avoiding those racial antagonisms which constantly endanger its peace. It is well-worn doctrine that Britain’s' aloofness from the Continent is the best means whereby she can use her influence with a view to settling the differences of its divergent nations. To some extent this perhaps explains the British Premier’s influence in European countries, an influence which is always used for the purpose of improving international relations, and creating good understanding, with a view to promoting harmony, and preventing those differences from arising, which. if unchecked might foment discord, and lead to the most serious consequences.