Editing Neville Chamberlain (section)

==== Early days (May 1937 – March 1938) ====
Chamberlain sought to conciliate Germany and make the Nazi state a partner in a stable Europe.{{sfn|Smart|2010|p=225}} He believed Germany could be satisfied by the restoration of some of its colonies, and during the [[Remilitarisation of the Rhineland|Rhineland crisis]] of March 1936 he had stated that "if we were in sight of an all-round settlement the British government ought to consider the question" of restoration of colonies.{{sfn|Self|2006|p=279}}

The new prime minister's attempts to secure such a settlement were frustrated because Germany was in no hurry to talk to Britain. Foreign Minister [[Konstantin von Neurath]] was supposed to visit Britain in July 1937 but cancelled his visit.{{sfn|Smart|2010|p=225}} [[Lord Halifax]], the [[Lord President of the Council]], visited Germany privately in November and met Hitler and other German officials. Both Chamberlain and British Ambassador to Germany [[Nevile Henderson]] pronounced the visit a success.{{sfn|Smart|2010|p=226}} Foreign Office officials complained that the Halifax visit made it appear Britain was too eager for talks, and the Foreign Secretary, Anthony Eden, felt that he had been bypassed.{{sfn|Smart|2010|pp=225–26}}

Chamberlain also bypassed Eden while the latter was on holiday by opening direct talks with Italy, an international pariah for its [[Second Italo-Ethiopian War|invasion and conquest]] of [[Ethiopian Empire|Ethiopia]].{{sfn|Self|2006|pp=273–74}} At a Cabinet meeting on 8 September 1937, Chamberlain indicated that he saw "the lessening of the tension between this country and Italy as a very valuable contribution toward the pacification and appeasement of Europe" which would "weaken the [[Axis powers|Rome–Berlin axis]]."{{sfn|Self|2006|p=274}} Chamberlain also set up a private line of communication with the Italian ''Duce'' [[Benito Mussolini]] through the Italian Ambassador, Count [[Dino Grandi]].{{sfn|Smart|2010|pp=228–29}}

In February 1938, Hitler began to press the Austrian government to accept ''[[Anschluss]]'' or joining Germany and Austria into a single state. Chamberlain believed that it was essential to cement relations with Italy in the hope that an Anglo–Italian alliance would forestall Hitler from imposing his rule over Austria. Eden believed that Chamberlain was being too hasty in talking with Italy and holding out the prospect of ''[[de jure]]'' recognition of Italy's conquest of Ethiopia. Chamberlain concluded that Eden would have to accept his policy or resign.{{sfn|Smart|2010|pp=230–32}} The Cabinet heard both men out but unanimously decided for Chamberlain, and despite efforts by other Cabinet members to prevent it, Eden resigned from office.{{sfn|Self|2006|p=286}} In later years, Eden tried to portray his resignation as a stand against appeasement (Churchill described him in ''The Second World War'' as "one strong young figure standing up against long, dismal, drawling tides of drift and surrender"){{sfn|Faber|2008|p=103}} but many ministers{{sfn|Self|2006|p=286}} and MPs believed there was no issue at stake worth resignation.{{sfn|Smart|2010|p=232}} Chamberlain appointed Lord Halifax as foreign secretary in Eden's place.{{sfn|Smart|2010|p=232}}