EUROPEAN PEACE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19130, 26 September 1936, Page 5

EUROPEAN PEACE

MR. EDEN'S DREAM

WHERE GERMANY STANDS

LONDON, Sept. 15. The dream of the British Foreign .Secretary, Mr. Eden, of a new Locarno Pact and reform of the League of Nations, to be followed by an All-European settlement, seems likely to be shattered, says the Sun-Herald news service.

Possibly all that will remain of Mr. Eden's great conception of the pacification of Europe appears to be a few fragments which might be merged into regional pacts. Herr Hitler's Nuremberg declaration that he will not sit at a conference table witli Russia is tantamount to killing at a stroke the plan for an Eastern Locarno Pact, and wrecking the most important half of Mr. Eden's proposals, namely, Germany's return to the League, an Eastern European settlement and a Western air pact.

It has long been thought that Herr Hitler never seriously contemplated cooperating with the other Powers. This is borne out by his recent actions.

It is believed that Herr Hitler wants to keep his foreign policy completely free and opportunist, ready to take advantage of the innumerable possibilities in Europe; for example, if the French Premier, M. Blum, is unable'to prevent France going Spain's way. It is everywhere admitted that, however much other Powers may have suffered, Herr Hitler has been extraordinarily successful from his own point of view.' His successes, so far, have depended upon surprise coups. The question now asked is whether the supply of them is running dry and whether, unless the economic situation improves, the temptation will girow toward foreign adventure. The Nazi Party's power remains absolute and, unless Herr Hitler changes his mind, it is difficult to see how a Locarno meiting in London will eventuate, becauso Russia's collaboration in a wider European settlement is an integral part of the Five-Power Conference.