The new Diplomacy

The first possibility was unpleasant, but a possibility; the second was definitely unthinkable; for what social order would be more likely to follow the collapse of Fascism than some socialist order? This is, and always will be, anathema for the British Conservative Party.

The third was a more likely possibility and there can be little doubt that this is the task towards which the best efforts of British diplomacy have been directed over the recent months, from the time Lord Halifax left London for Berlin, up to the recent Cabinet split.

After all, British diplomacy has long been concerned to weaken the link between France and the U.S.S.R.. and little though our diplomats like the prospect of German expansion to the East—the prevention of which was one of the main things which brought Britain into the last war—they may well regard it as the least of the evils with which they are faced today. Given that the League idea of settling disputes on the basis of justice is discarded—and it seems it is—diplomacy must necessarily be concerned with tactful arrangements for the sacrifice of the weak to the strong.

It was upon the question of the choice between the first and third alternatives that the Cabinet split.

According to Mr. Anthony Eden's view the time had come to call a halt in the process of bolstering up Fascism. The Spanish war had taught him a lot. The "life line to India" via the Mediterranean was directly threatened by Germany at Gibraltar, and at the Red Sea by Italy's African Empire. There must be no more sops to Cerberus, and the time had come for a showdown with the unruly debtors, regardless of the consequnce. The maintenance of the integrity of the British Empire demanded it. The possible result of such a showdown—nothing less than the collapse of Fascism—was to Mr, Chamberlain, unthinkable. This divergence of opinion had grown more marked as the days went by and the progress of the Spanish War showed the Imperialist ambitions of the Fascist powers in Spain. The question which had to be faced was how far was Britain willling to let them go. Mr. Eden said "No further." Mr. Chamberlain hasn't made up his mind yet.

The issues stand clear. Mr. Eden refuses to sacrifice the British Empire to Fascism. Mr. Chamberlain regards the benefits of the continuance of Fascism, or rather the avoidance of Socialism, as greater than dangers to the British Empire it involves. You can still draw dividends from half a British Empire; but you couldn't draw dividends in a Socialist Britain. Better half a loaf than no bread.

Mr. Chamberlain had his way. The changeover is complete. Lord Halifax has supplanted Mr. Eden. The pro-Fascist elements are temporarily well seated in the saddle, The question which concerns you and me is where will they turn the horse's head? Towards Geneva, or towards Berlin-Rome-Tokio?

The Cabinet re-shuffle contains several possibilities. At first it appeared that the issue of Fascism or the British Empire might be a wedge which would cleave the Conservative Party in two. It appears, however, that the self-styled champions of individualism and freedom of thought have no tears to shed at the loss of one whose opinions differ from theirs, and the possibility of a serious split within the party is disappointingly small.

The effect on the electorate, however, is more problematical and it remains to be seen how far the enormous propaganda resources of our rulers will be successful in overcoming the natural indignation of a hoodwinked electorate which elected the party to power on the assumption that the League of Nations and Collective Security would be the foundation of British foreign policy.

The general opinion, no doubt, will be that instead of telling Halifax to go to Hitler, Hitler should be told to go to to Halifax.

—A.H.S.