News of the Week
rpHounll nothing very much is happening visibly at
Geneva a good deal may be happening invisibly. The Prime Minister and Mr. Stimson and Dr. Bruning have talked at length on immediate problems, such as the broad lines of the coming Lausanne discussions and a disarma- ment treaty which Germany would be able to accept. For both the concurrence of France is necessary, which makes it the more unfortunate that M. Tardieu, for per- fectly genuine reasons of health, cannot return to Geneva as he intended. That, incidentally, dispels all hopes of the early conclusion of a Franco-Italian naval agreement which would bring those two countries fully within the framework of the London Treaty. By Monday, of course, after the result of the first ballot in the French elections has been declared, M. Tardieu's position may be rather different from what it is to-day, but for any definite indication of France's future policy we shall have to wait for the second ballot on May 8th, when the parties. of the Left will make- common cause. The new Government is not likely to be less amenable on such matters as disarma- ment and. reparations, and may be more so, though it would be a mistake to look for any fundamental change. All the indications are of a slight, but no more than a slight, swing towards the Left, and it cannot be repeated too often that France's attitude on reparations and dis- armament represents in its essentials a national policy, not a party policy.
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