Evening star., 1937-06-13
BY A. G.. GARDINER,
Ensland's Greatest Liberal Editor.

AN'NSt'
7 ONDON-In spite Of untoward
incidents. like the Deutschland
affair, the European outlook
- has markedly improved in re-
cent weeks. and, though while the
Spanish volcano continues in erup-
ton the danger point is unlikely to
be passed, the condition of nervous
tension which prevailed in the Spring
has disappeared. There is con-
spicuous revival or more confident
relations between Germany and Eng
land and noticeably better feeling
between Germany and France
The civilities that have been ex-
changed by three countries in connec-
ton with the coronation and the Paris
International Exhibition, formalities
though they were, have warmed the
general atmosphere, and, in with
drawing from the Spanish adventure,
Herr Hitler is felt, ipso facto. to
orientate to an Anglo -German-F French
understanding. The conversations
between Field Marshal Won Blomberg
and the English foreign minister are
understood to have removed the prev
alent fear Of policy Of enlightenment,
and the economic and financial advan-
tages OF cooperation with the Western
powers are. in the circumstances Of
Germany today, too obvious to be
overlooked. Those advantages could
only be cashed in on the basis Of some
understanding in regard to the llmi-
tation Of armaments, and pretty GER
tainly also Of assurances as TO the
security of Czechoslovakia from ag-
gression. For while public opinion in
England would be hostile to any part
in Russo German quarrel. it could
not wholly disinterest itself in the
fate of Czechoslovakia.
In total. these facts and tendencies
point to the possibility of return to
the more hopeful position prior to
Hitler's coup in the Rhineland and
the torpedoing of the Locarno pact.
The restoration of that position, with
its promise OF a regional understand
ing between the Western powers, has
been the aim Of British policy through
out, and now that Hitler has had his
pas de deux with Mussolini in Spain,
there is reasonable ground for be-
lieving that it will be achieved.
The causes of the change Of atmos-
phere are not obscure. Whatever may
be the ultimate outcome of the civil
war in Spain, it cannot fulfill the
large ambitions which inspired Musso-
lini's activities in the peninsula. Those
activities have left him on the horns
of dilemma He can neither get on
nor get out. and he has suffered in
prestige both at home and abroad
and nowhere more than in Germany,
whose military experts have through
out opposed participation in the ad-
venture. And as the prestige OF Mus
solini has fallen, that OF Britain and
France has appreciated. The success
Of their policy of non-intervention,
pursued with patience and flrmness
in the face of enormous difficulties.
has made a deep impression on the
mind of Europe.
Nor can it be doubted that the re-
armament policy of Britain has been
a powerful factor in cooling the
atmosphere. While the British gov
ernment confined itself to moral ap-
peals, the militarist nations took
the bit in their teeth and assumed the
dictatorship Of events But, with the
change Of policy in London, an en-
tirely new situation is created.
Nowhere is this change more marked
than among the lesser powers, espe-
cially those of Central and Southeast
ern Europe. "Danubian and Balkan
Europe" says a Vienna correspondent
of the spectator, "is watching with
bated breath the pace of British re-
armament and the further develop
ment OF the Italo-German partner
ship. Faced with q major conflict
in Europe, they would desperately
'try to remain neutral, or, failing that.