British Commonwealth of Nations: Threadbare Phrase

COMMONWEALTH

(British Commonwealth of Nations)

Throughout England the famed “spirit of Locarno” showed signs of becoming a sort of international “Pollyanna” at the hands of unoriginal writers who did their best to grind it into a threadbare catch phrase.

It was averred that the Mosul question (see INTERNATIONAL) should be settled by “a Turkish Locarno”; and the Ulster boundary agreement (see IRELAND) was mentioned on every hand as “the Irish Locarno.” Cynical persons predicted the hour when the Peking Customs Conference (see CHINA) would be touted as “the Chinese Locarno.” Meanwhile this felicitous spirit was rumored to have flown in at the door of the St. James’s Club, famed exclusive rendezvous of London diplomats. As a result, a spokesman for the German Embassy hinted that his colleagues are shortly to be invited back into the club, which has been closed to them since 1914.

Discriminating observers rejoiced at these doings while deploring the stereotyped handle by which British journalism took hold of them.