Evening star., 1922-09-10
LEAGUE HELD HOPE
|OF EUROPEAN UNITY
Nations Again Turn to
Geneva as Supreme Coun-
Gil Breaks Down.
u. S. STAND IS FACTOR
by A. G. GARDINER,
Britain's Greatest Liberal Editor.

BY A. G. GARDINER,
Britain,s Greatest Liberal Editor.
By Cable to The Star.
LONDON. September s.-This week
end sees a noticeable and notable change
In the atmosphere Of Europe.
After having regarded it virtually
with scorn for a year or more. public
opinion is swinging around to the
league Of nations as the only means
Tho situation in Europe every
where bristfes with bayonets.
The supreme council. supposed to
be more powerful than the league, is
dead.
anic-stricken nations are engaged
In wild "sauve qui peut."
What follows? The only alternative
Is the league Of nations.
Ih1s was only a vague phantom
while the supreme council operated.
Even the survival OF the league was
doubtful France was openly hostile
to 1t. Lloyd George was Indifferent.
New Point Of View.
But now the collapse of the council
Is producing new point of view. The
meeting Of the assembly Of the league
with deepest interest
1t is even stated that Lloyd George
Is willing to make an appearance be-
iore the assembly IL invited. He real
izes that the supreme council is gone
and that the league now comes to the
front as the parliament Of Europe.
The question now Is will France
modify her attitude toward the
league? France must be aware by
now that a separate past with Eng
land or America is out Of the ques-
tion. No party in England would
dare support the proposal Of a sepa-
rate treaty with France. The United
states would not think Of it. More
over, such a pact Is not necessary to
the defense of France.
Germany is disarmed and impov-
erished. while France is the only
great military power left in Europe.
The once proposed separate treaties
would not now defend France from
an attack by Germany, but would es-
tablish the military dictatorship OF
France in Europe. If France still
feels she needs external assurance OF
the league of nations.
Anarchy or Order.
Briefly, the issue before Europe to-
day is between French militia risn and
the league of nations-between an
Is how can the authority of the
league be strengthened? England is
anxious for the inclusion of Germany
and is prepared for the inclusion of
Ireland. Unfortunately, the Irish
Free State treaty has not been rati-
for that obstacle Ireland might have
been admitted to the league at the
present assembly meeting.
The discussions in the assembly on
the subjects of reparations and ar
maments have gone to the heart of
the troubles OF Europe. Even with
Its present one-sided constitution the
league expresses more and more OF
stability to the reasonable mind of
the world and. best Of all, it comes
in sharp conflict with the idea Of a
French hegemony over Europe. The
supreme council broke down under
the weight of that policy.
VIII the league break down, too?
The struggle will be a hard one, but
a hopeful factor is that France is be-
ginning to realize two things. One
is the financial folly of her present
policy and the second is tho grow
ing hostility Of the world to a sub
stitution of French military domina-
tion in Europe for Prussian military
domination.
League IL Pacific.
The more that the United States
makes clear that it will have nothing
to do with q militaristic Europe, but
will cooperate with a pacific Europe,
the more certain will be the triumph
of the league of nations.
Meantime the temporary respite
given Germany by the reparations
commission has relieved the situa-
ton. Europe breathes again with
the suspension of French action and
the symptoms of change in the
attitude of Premier Poincare.
The hopeful impression prevails
that France is beginning to realize
that she cannot proceed with her
policy for the disintegratfon Of Ger
many in the face of the public opin-
ion of tho world.
cant. All eyes in Europe turn in
creasingly toward America as a
source Of hope and help. Germany
turns for one motive, France for
another and England for q third. But
all hopes are ultimately one. Europe
and needs an umpire-disinterested.
powerful. sympathetic. to resolve its
discords.
Visits Of Cox and House.
Hence the extraordinary interest
Gov. Cox and Col. House. I had the
privilege of dining with each before
their departure. was much Inn
pressed with the sanity of their sur
vey Of the European situation and
their acute appreciation of tho perils
and the necessary remedies.
There is doubt that the main out.
lines for the rescue of Europe are
becoming clearer. The pursuit Of a
settlement on the basis Of repara-
tions, indemnities, economic strangu-
lation and military dominance is
futile. This path leads deeper and
deeper into ruin.
The practical dissolution Of the su-
preme- council is an admission Of fail
ure along those lines. The council
continued the war spirit. The league
Of nations speaks for peace.
fCopvri0hf 1902