The trouble, which can be discerned plainly and between the
lines, arises froth French commitments over the eastern frontier of Germany, especially her commit- ments towards Poland. These underlie also the diffi- culties over demilitarization in the Rhineland. The proposed Pact presupposes a Rhineland Pact and the Treaties of Arbitration which Germany proposed in February. The more of these the better ; but it has had to be made clear to France that Great Britain can not guarantee to support by force of arms arbitration treaties which do not directly concern her. If, as we presume, the published memoranda are the reduction on to paper of many conversations between Mr. Chamberlain and M. de Fleuriau, Lord Crewe and M. Briand, as well as between the two Foreign Ministers, we see proofs of reasonable- ness and of a real desire to co-operate which are indeed refreshing and hopeful.
