THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES FRIDAY, July 22, 1938. ANGLO-GERMAN RELATIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23558, 22 July 1938, Page 8

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES FRIDAY, July 22, 1938 . ANGLO-GERMAN RELATIONS

A great deal of interest seems to have been aroused by the visit to London of an emissary of Herr Hitler whose object has apparently been to engage in unofficial conversations with Lord Halifax concerning the relations between Great Britain and Germany. It may be taken for granted that, in sending his personal representative on a mission of this kind, Herr Hitler can only have been actuated by a desire to promote an improvement in the relations between the two countries. The indication supplied by The Times of the general tenor of the conversations may be accepted as correct, and no other explanation of the purport of the Nazi envoy’s visit has been suggested. It is certain that if Herr Hitler has deemed it expedient to make informal representations to the British Foreign Office his emissary was assured of a courteous and sympathetic hearing. Therefore, the possible outcome of these conversations may be important. The foreign policy of Great Britain is based upon a desire to do everything possible to promote European appeasement. Very serious tension was created recently by the revelation of the territorial aims of Germany as manifested in the annexation of Austria and the crisis arising out of the Sudeten German problem in Czechoslovakia. While Germany was responsible for making the Sudeten German question an international issue she has evidently been impressed by the attitude of Great Britain and France in regard to the threat of the fulfilment of her apparent designs. Herr Hitler has seemingly found cause to consider seriously the advantages, as compared with the risks, of other methods of procedure and of a settlement of the Czechoslovakian issue on a peaceful basis. “If the present period of tension can only be got through in safety,” wrote Viscount Samuel recently in a review article, “ there might well come about in a calmer atmosphere some general European settlement in which a friendly arrangement in the colonial and economic sphere would be an important element. Such a settlement would immediately bring so great a stimulus to industry and commerce that a new prosperity would spread over the countries of Europe,” If Herr Hitler is really desirous that relations between Great Britain and Germany should be placed on a better footing, he can be sure that the British Government will be prepared to meet him half-way in the discussion of any proposals to that end. Moreover, unless his Government is prepared to make a definite contribution towards the solution of the Czechoslovakian problem by peaceful means, it is difficult to see why he should be moved to make any overtures at all, however unofficial, to the British Government at the present juncture. Subject to a satisfactory adjustment of this issue, there should be no insurmountable obstacle to the establishment of relations between Great Britain and Germany on the basis of an amicable understanding between the two nations. “ There can as things are,” observed the Spectator, “be no predetermined plan for conversations with Germany. Opportunities must be taken as they arise. In present conditions the nations of Europe which stand for peace and justice must be ready to defend themselves and one another, but they must be certain that they do stand for justice as well as peace; if acknowledged justice calls for certain sacrifices they must be ready to make them; and if a defensive front is necessary it must not assume the character of an antiGerman front unless Germany by her deliberate policy makes that inevitable.” That is fairly reasoned. Herr Hitler has declared that peace is the goal of his work and that of the Reich Government. It is for him to show that this is so. Nazi Germany is impressed by Britain’s determination to be powerful as a champion of peace and an opponent of violent European changes. And if Great Britain is satisfied that Germany has no sinister designs upon Czechoslovakia there will be no lack of willingness on her part to discuss the grounds of a better mutual relationship. Even as regards the question of her former colonies, which concerns other countries than Great Britain, Germany has no reason to suppose that the British Government would not be prepared to give consideration to representations which she might make on that subject.