I • The Duce made his long expected speech on Sunday. It was diversely interpreted in the Press, but on the whole, British and French opinion concurs in holding that at the worst it leaves matters -as they were, and, at the best, it Isignified the Duce's willingness for a reasonable and peaceful settlement of the Italian claims against France. jt, should be remembered that the Duce was speaking to the survivors of the veterans who brought the Fa.seist Government into power, and :that, in any case, speech., to an Italian, is as much a method of arousing emotion as a means of communicating thoughts.
Barricade is Down
• • The Duce maintained t hat a long period of peace WIIS necessary for the development of :European civilisation, although " perpetual peace is a catastrophe for the human race." The ending of the Spanish war, he said, brought down the barricade epnratiiig Prance and Italy; the outstanding problems—Tunis, ,Iihnti and the Suez Canal—should now be settled.
" Force Determines Policies"
There are rumours that
already unofficial or Sem 'official negotiations are going on between Italian and French representatives, and it is thought that there is no reason why the matter should not be settled peaceably. The Duce, however, would not have any " sentimental" friendship with France: "We do not want to hear any more about brotherly, sisterly. cousinly, or any other sort of bastard relationship, because relations between States depend on a balanee of forces between them, and it was this which determined their policies . . whoever is strong is popular with his friends and feared by his enemies, and there is one lesson which the whole of hietory has taught: * Woe to those who cannot defend themselves?"
Madrid
Madrid surrendered on Tues day morning and the Spanish War is being brought to an end. Mussolini and Hitler sent congratulatory telegrams to General Franco. The people of Madrid apparently welcomed the Nationalists as they entered the city, and the lorries of food svere soon distributing provisions to the famished populace.
Splits on the Left
111 English politics seem to be In a confused state. The Labour Party is split between the " orthodox," led by the officials at Transport House, and the open or secret sympathisers with Sir Stafford Cripps, who wants a Left Popular Front to bring down the National 'Government and form a close alliance with Russia "and other democracies."
—And on the Right The Conservatives seem equally bewildered. Apart from the Premier's speech at Birmingham they have had no lead on foreign .affairs. It Is said that at a meeting of the Conservative private members a 'resolution of confidence in the Prime .Minister's foreign policy was on the verge of being passed when Earneone asked what that policy was. The subsequent debate took up the rest of the available time. Churchill, Eden, and Duff Cooper are leading a group of about 30 National Government supporters in a demand for a wider National Government with full powers over the natios's industry, wealth, and man-power.
Once .4gain?
Tension between Poland and
Germany has been increasing during the week. It is feared by some that Hitler will pounce on Danzig as he pounced on Memel.