Evening star., 1939-11-05
Lloyd George Sees Neutrality
Act Squirting Germans to Peace
Calls on Britain to Approach Soviet Russia in
Conciliatory Tone to Effect Security
of Europe and World
By David Lloyd George.

LONDON.-As far as actual fighting
during the past week is concerned, there
is nothing much to comment upon. Cor
respondents "at the front" find 1t hard
to scrape up enough copy to I'LL an oc-
casional half column. It Is not enlight-
ening stuff. That is not their fault. It
is more like the tittle-tattle which Is
written about boxers training for
much advertised fight. It is mostly con-
cerned about the diet of the combat.
ants and the various efforts to keep At,
with gossip about spirit, morale and con-
1idence.
The only diderence-and that is ma
terial one-is the growing doubts as to
whether that particular fight will now
come Oh, or whether 1t was ever intended
that it should take place. The struggle
for the championship will not be decided
on the Siegfried Line. It will be fought
elsewhere with other weapons.
The real battle is being fought at sea,
in the air and in the diplomatic rings.
The first two have not yet fully de-
veloped. Nevertheless, the activities of
the rival navies have produced some
concrete results on both sides. The Ger
man mercantile marine has been swept
of the seas-except the Baltic. On the
other hand. the sinkings of British ships
far and near are multiplying.
Cut on From Scandinavia.
They are not numerous enough so far
to imperil our essential communications.
But they have succeeded In cutting OH
for the moment our vital food supplies
from the Scandinavian countries, Hol-
land and the Baltic states. The alarm
ing announcement made by the food
minister as to the rationing of butter
and bacon proves that severe blow has
been delivered in this quarter. A perusal
Of our prewar trade and navigation re-
turns shows how dependent we were for
these commodities not only upon Den
mark and Holland but upon Poland,
Lithuania, Latvia and Esthonia. The
same observation applies to our imports
of timber and wood pulp
am at loss to understand why, with
our overwhelming navy, we should not
be able to protect our communications
with Denmark and Holland. It may be
that the stoppage Of supplies from these
and other countries may be attributable
not so much to maritime difficulties as
to fear of German action on the land
frontiers of these countries If they con-
tinue to furnish Britain with food stores.
In the air the activity has been rather
one of accommodating for future attacks
on greater scale. Flights have hitherto
been confined to few airplanes to spy
out the land and test the possibilities. But
the diplomatic and political maneuvers
which are going on must not be ignored
for the ultimate issue of the conflict may
depend upon their outcome.
The German efforts to strengthen the
new friendship with Russia have beer
ceaseless. The Molotoff speech may no,
be all Germany expected. Contro
versially 1t is easily answered by quota
tions from speeches delivered only a fev
months ago. But in war that is no
what matters. What concerns US deepl.
is whether it indicates any probable
change in the action of Russia.
Discloses Greater Good viii.
It does not forecast any departure from
the Russian declaration of military neu-
trality. But Russia can help Germany
effectively and perhaps decisively in hel
endeavors to defeat our blockade with.
out sending a single battalion to hel
support. 1t serves no useful purpose tt
conceal the fact that the Molotof
speech discloses an increase of good vii
in the attitude of Soviet Russia towart
Germany.
On the appeal made to the British
government not to turn down too per-
emptorily the peace overtures Of Her
Hitler, I dwelt upon the difference /
would make in the attitude of neutra
powers toward US If we showed readi
ness to enter into a conference at which
neutrals would be represented with {
view to seeking such a settlement of al
the outstanding differences which wer