NEWS OF THE WEEK
AWEEK whose first four days have been marked by no accentuation of crisis is by common consent being described as a period of " lull " in international affairs. But if swords are not being rattled, pens and tongues are even more than normally active. A diplomatic contest for the Balkan States constitutes the chief activity of the Foreign Offices, though even that is put in the shade by the frenzy with which the Propagandist Ministries at Berlin and Rome are emitting abuse of President Roosevelt—the best possible compliment they could pay to his recent message. Negotia- tions between Britain and France on the one hand and Russia on the other are progressing favourably, in spite of real difficulties which are to no party's discredit and ought not to be minimised. It may be hoped with some confidence that at an early date both Russia and Turkey will have asso- ciated themselves in what it is already a misnomer to call the Western, or the democratic, security system ; it is a European system, unlimited by geography or constitutional form. Germany is making a strong bid for Turkey's friend- ship, but the appointment as Ambassador to Angora of the uniformly unsuccessful von Papen seems hardly an aus- picious move. Italy, meanwhile, is working hard on Yugo- slavia, whose Foreign Minister was to meet Count Ciano at Venice on Saturday. A good deal may depend on what effect the Rumanian Foreign Minister's Berlin interviews had on him, and what influence Turkey may be able to exert on the Balkan Entente, of which she is a leading member. * * * *
