The Press FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1938. Another Respite

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22520, 30 September 1938, Page 12

The Press FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1938. Another Respite

For the second time in a fortnight, and with the German mobilisation a matter of hours away, Europe has been steered in a breathtaking swerve away from the edge of the precipice. With several obvious gaps, the narrative of events leading up to the summoning by Herr Hitler of the Four-Power Conference at Munich

is given in Mr Chamberlain's statement to the House of Commons, printed in the cable news this morning. With the Munich conference, however, as with the Berchtesgaden discussions, it is necessary to remember 'that the appearance of a last-minute improvisation is necessarily deceptive. The possibility of settling the Sudeten German question by a conference of

the Four Powers was freely discussed in the London press early in the crisis and it can safely be assumed that the project would have special attractions for Mr Chamberlain, who has always proclaimed a return to a FourPower concert of Europe as the goal of his foreign policy.' Moreover, since the AngloFrench scheme includes Italy among the

guarantors of Czechoslovakia's revised frontiers, it has always been inevitable that Italy would at some stage be brought into the discussions. One thing which emerges fairly clearly from Mr Chamberlain's statement is that it is largely through Signor Mussolini's influence with HenHitler that the second respite has been gained; and it must therefore be assumed, since European politics is now reduced to a naked struggle for gains, that Signor Mussolini is exacting a price for his good offices. The conference, that is, is not likely to confine itself to the Sudeten German problem, though no doubt further concessions will be required from the Czech Government as the price of peace; almost certainly it will also discuss Spain and Soviet Russia's connexions in Europe. The proposed neutralisation of Czechoslovakia will enable Germany to secure, what she has long sought, the cancellation of the pact of mutual assistance between Russia and Czechoslovakia; and it would not be at all surprising if at Munich Germany and Italy joined in demanding the cancellation of the Franco-Soviet Pact. There is support for the supposition that much more will be attempted at Munich than a settlement of the Sudeten German problem in the announcement, which is not yet official, that the withdrawal of Italian troops from Spain has begun and that Count Ciano has informed the British Government that the Anglo-Italian agreement can now come into force.

To the extent that these new developments seem to avert the immediate possibility of a war in which the democratic Powers would be at a serious strategic disadvantage, they are to be welcomed. But it is impossible to welcome unreservedly what looks unpleasantly like an attempt to re-establish the vicious system whereby Europe is governed by. an irresponsible oligarchy of Great Powers, the lesser Powers being reduced to the position of satellites. That system has broken down once, and will inevitably break down again. Moreover, if there is anything to be said for a revived concert of Europe, there is nothing at all to be said for a concert of Europe which excludes Russia. For better .or for worse, Russia is part of Europe; and any system which excludes her is artificial and unreal.