2 PARIS, 1937: COLONIAL QUESTIONS AND PEACE 151‘avowed policy of Germany to seek treaty adjustments peaceably.’^222
Steed’s position was in turn attacked in a letter to the Times by William
Horsfall Carter. Carter, who was later to become the secretary of the
New Commonwealth Society and the editor of its monthly organ The
New Commonwealth, criticised the British and French governments for
failing to address the question of treaty revision which, he stated, ‘should
have been boldly tackled if there were ever to be any improvement in
the psychological situation in Europe’. Carter claimed that the current
outbreak of ‘exasperated Germany nationalism’ was an understandable
response to this ‘breach of faith.’^223
Among the measures mentioned at the time in respect to appeasing
Germany was French acceptance of the Anschluss and the considera-
tion by Britain of ‘returning certain of the colonies lost by Germany.’^224
Whether or not the latter measure was in the realm of possibility prior to
1931 is unclear. However, what is clear is that in the course of 1931 and
1932, the prospect of colonial retrocession became increasingly remote.
In a letter written to the Times on July 28, 1931, Arthur Hirst, who
had recently visited Germany, reported that revisionism in Germany had
reached a level of frenzy. The Germans, he stated, ‘passionately believe
that Germany was entirely guiltless in 1914...and that the whole War
and the Treaty of Versailles constituted the greatest crime in all history,
against a noble and innocent people.’ He added that it was ‘too late to
do anything to counter this most fateful propaganda.’^225 Thus, although
many in Britain wished to assist the ailing Weimar Republic through
responding to the German sense of injustice, there was at time same
time ‘already a suspicion in British minds that revision would not gener-
ate goodwill in Germany’ and a feeling ‘that concessions to Germany,’ as
(^222) Wickham Steed, letter to the editor, Times, July 16, 1931. See also Wood, Peaceful
Change and the Colonial Problem, 77.
(^223) W. Horsfall Carter, letter to the editor, Times, July 20, 1931. See also Wood, Peaceful
Change and the Colonial Problem, 77.
(^224) Major John C. Daniell, letter to the editor, Times, July 18, 1931. See also Wood,
Peaceful Change and the Colonial Problem, 77n.
(^225) Arthur Hirst, letter to the editor, Times, July 28, 1931. See also Wood, Peaceful
Change and the Colonial Problem, 78.