Evening star., 1936-04-25
OuestiOnnaire.


a peace formula is the QUESTIONABLE.
To it British Foreign Secretary Eden,
acting jointly for himself and French
Foreign Minister Flandin, Is about to
have recourse. Their object is to con-
front Germany with series Of specific
questions as to her political, military and
territorial intentions and aspirations.
Mr.. Eden is preparing these interroga-
tories for early submission in Berlin.
Upon the nature OF Hitler's reply to them
will largely depend Anglo-French will
ingness to discuss the proposals he sub
mitted on April as the basis for re-
vised European peace structure. The
questions are designed to determine
exactly to what extent the Germans are
content with the status quo in Europe
and overseas, and whether they cherish
any lurking purpose of altering 1t some
day by force. London and Paris do not
conceal their anxiety thus to put Berlin
on the spot and definitely test the genu-
inenesS of Nazi protestations that Ger
many is animated by no aggressive
motives.
Foremost among the subjects on which
Britain seeks reaSsurances is the axact
meaning of the Fuehrer's recent state
ment concerning colonies. He observed
that the Reich is ready to re-enter the
League with the expectation that within
a reasonable time and by means of
friendly negotiations the question of
colonial equality of rights will be cleared
up" The British hope, but are by no
means sure, that Hitler refers to colonial
economic equality. If he contemplates
the abandonment by Great Britain OF
mandates or retransfer to Germany OF
any of her former overseas empire now
under the Union Jack, the Nazi leader is
headed for disappointment. Both the
British government and public are un-
alterably opposed to any such surrender.
France, with a relatively minor inter-
est in Germany's longings for restora-
ton of her overseas domain, is more
concerned with the Reich's intentions in
Europe. The French desire to know
primarily what the Reich has in mind
about such things as identification Of
the Rhineland, absorption Of Austria,
and acquisition of DanAg. Memel and
Lithuania. France, too, seeks pledges
of Germanys willingness to return to
Geneva and accept Internationally
League obligations respecting non-ag-
gression and collective security. M. Flan-
din particularly Graves declaration OF
Germany's readiness to refer to the
World Court her contention that the
Franco-Soviet mutual assistance pact is
incompatible with the Locarno treaty.
Both Great Britain and France are
vitally concerned over Germany'S vast
rearmament program, just alleged in the
House of Commons by Winston Churchill
to have entailed expenditure of S4,00O,-
100000 in 1885. The QUESTIONABLE opens
up vista of interminable discussion on
all these issues, provided the Germans
are willing to embark upon an exchange
Of views demanded under such novel
conditions, which they may brand as be-
ing beneath the dignity of sovereign
power strenuously bent upon establish
ing the principle of equality in interna-
tional relations. The opportunity for
delay and quibble is in any event almost
unlimited. 1t is safe prophecy that
much water will flow beneath the bridges
of the Thames, the Seine and the Spree
before the QUESTIONABLE is found to be
debatable, to say nothing of when and
how Hitler sees fit to answer it.