Evening star., 1936-06-26
Clearing Skies.

One swallow does not make a Sum-
mer, and it will take more than the
single pronouncement of foreign policy
by the new French government to scat
ter the storm clouds that overshadow the
European horizon. This weeks declara-
tions in Parliament by Premier Blum
and Foreign Minister Delbos have never
theless promptly cleared the skies in
several promising directions. At Lon
don, Berlin and Rome alike the olive
branches extended from Paris are well
coined as gestures calculated to smooth
the way to better understanding than
has prevailed at any time since the Italo-
Ethiopian conflict divided Europe into
hostile camps. All indications now fore
shadow friendly atmosphere for the
impending Council and Assembly meet
ings of the League, convened to liquidate
sanctions and correlated issues. Britain
and France, no longer at loggerheads on
the subject, will join in proposing aboli-
tion Of the measures imposed upon Italy.
On both sides of the channel the dis
appearance of that controversy is ex-
pected to go far toward Establishing
the Anglo-French entente cordiale. Its
disruption was responsible in large de-
gree for latter-day Old World chaos
and tension. Besides being a substan-
tial augury for peace, the reunion de-
notes a readiness to pool plans for a
reformed" League of Nations on work.
able lines.
Germany warmly greets Premier
Blum's conciliatory sentiments and his
expression of willingness to give adequate
consideration to Chancellor Hitler's peace
proposals. The Wilhelmstrasse is agree
ably surprised that the new Popular
Front government on the Quai dOrsay,
despite it's strong Socialists Communist
leavening, reveals itself as devoid of any
arbitrary hostility to the Nazi regime. 1t
is hinted that the Fuehrer will take
early occasion to reply to M. Blum's over
lures in corresponding tones of candor
and accommodation.
Italy is likewise gratified to discover
that the Leftist powers which have come
into control at Paris are ready to live in
harmony with all states, regardless OF
their forms of government. French So
cialists and Communists have never con-
cealed their bitter opposition to the
things that Hitler and Mussolini repre-
sent. But Rome is now persuaded that
Premier Blum and his colleagues, as
good Europeans" will not shrink from
far-reaching steps to effect mutually
satisfactory working arrangements with
both the German and italian dictator
ships. With lifting of the League boy
colt on Italy, Mussolini's return to
Geneva and full-fedged collaboration in
maintaining the European status quo
are confidently expected. Frances active
role in removal of sanctions is designed
to reknit the Franco-Italian ties which
were broken by the Ethiopian affair.
Altogether, the stage seems to have
been set by the Blum cabinet for more
stable trans Atlantic times than have
been known for many months. The
BRAND ideal of a United States OF
Europe" which was revived during the
recent discussion of foreign policy in
the French Parliament, is doubtless still
a remote vision. But current develop
ments are fabricating the stuff of which
such dreams are made and from which
some day what now seems mere mirage
may come within the scope of reality.