Evening star., 1938-10-04
BRITISH POLICY
HELD ECONOMIC
Chamberlain Is Declared to
Have Eye on Future Trade
Agreements.
By SIR ARTHUR WILLERT.


b. Radio to The Star.
statement that Great Britain will
never again disarm unilaterally, that ir
fact she will continue to build up hel
fighting power until other countries
are prepared to talk disarmament, i!
regarded among diplomats here as the
key passage of Prime Minister Cham
berlain's speech yesterday before the
House of Commons.
This passage shows that Mr.. Cham
berlain means to try to follow what
has been called his policy of the olive
branch in the mailed fist. Behind the
friendly and constructive consulta-
tions which he hopes have been JIM
augurated with the dictators will be a
spectacle of Britain and France draw
ing upon their economic and financial
resources to do their part in the arma-
ment race, the strain of which Ger
many and Italy are far less able to
bear.
Economic Factor Large.
In other words, the economic fac
tor bulks large behind London's visions
of political appeasement. 1t is hoped
that, especially if economic condi-
tions now improve in the democracieS,
the dictators may have second
thoughts about elf-sufficiency and find
in them another reason for wanting
to do business with the democracies
over disarmament and other appease-
ment measures.
The Anglo American trade treaty
comes into this picture. 1t has been
in allegiance during the crisis, but
there are signs now that Whitehall
would like to expedite its signature.
One reason for this is that, according
to the timetable arranged last sum-
mer at the time of the Austrian debt
settlement, negotiations for Anglo
German trade agreements are to start
soon.
Cooperation Held Important.
Regarding Chamberlain's political
plans, the most important passages of
his speech are considered to be those
in which he dwells upon the cooper
alton Of the big four at Munich and
upon his conviction that sincerity and
his subsequent conversation with
Chancellor Hitler. These passages are
held to foreshadow an effort to Gre
ate a system of consultation and CO.
operation among Britain, France,
Germany and Italy for European ap-
peasement.
That would mean final abandon
ment Of the League of Nations and
any real effort toward cooperation
with Soviet Russia, two institutions
for which Chamberlain never has
shown much sympathy. That, in
turn, might we'll mean a redrawing
of the political map of Europe.
The first test is likely to come over
Spain. There is reason to believe
that Chamberlain is about to try
again to persuade Mussolini to bring
enough Italians out of Spain to justify
putting the Anglo-Italian agreement
into force. No data are available
on which to base an estimate of his
chance of success The general belief
in London, however, Is that the dicta-
tors will now, at the worst, give the
nerves of Europe rest.
Those who doubt the dictatorial
good faith are inclined to look for
the next trouble in the Mediterranean.
1t might come over Spain. 1t might
come further afeld. It is feared,
especially if Britain and France drop
Russia and thus fulfill what to the
dictators is the chief obpect of the
projected four-power system, that the
dictators would then try to separate
France and Britain.
These and silimar considerations,
together with smarting conscience
regarding Czechoslovakia, account for
the growing volume of criticism of
Chamberlain, now that the emotion
of the past week is yielding to thought.
tCcpyright 1888. by the North Americn
Newspaper Alliance, Ine)