Evening star., 1924-08-31

will now enjoy grows out of the fact
that II can approach the problem of
security after Germany Is admitted.
1t can discuss the whole issue with
the Germans. In so far as the Ger
mans feel their own integrity men,
aced. in SO far as they feel threaten
ed by future invasion and the German
apprehensions after the Ruhr are just
as real as the French after 1870 and
1914, the compact of mutual guaran-
tee will be as valuable to. them as
to the French. The real test, which
no one can settle in advance. is
whether the Germans want security
within their existing frontiers or
only a period of rest before they
challenge the existing system in Eu-
rope. And in perfect honesty one
may say that probably the Germans
themselves do not know the answer.
Neighbors Fear Germany.
Yet obviously not single neighbor
of Germany is going to disarm until
it is clear whether Germany in the
long run is to desire peace or war
And it is equally plain that no such
neighbor is going to reduce its armies
beyond the point where it believes
security is lodged, save as this reduc-
ance Of help from other nations,
which means. for example. British
divisions to replace those eliminat ted
from the French Army by reason
Of a reduction of armies, in case Of
German invasion.
Naturally, the September session
of the league is not going to solve all
the riddles or settle all the questions
which have plagued Europe ever since
he of ;.A1
Years War. The best that can be
hoped for is the invitation to
Germany to join the league, the
sketching of some sort of guarantee
of security under the league, such as
I have indicated, and, assuming Ger
man consent to join, which is far
from certain, later invitation to
Germany to discuss these projects
and adhere to them, conceivably
after having obtained notifications
to suit her own legitimate conceptions
and desires.
My own guess is that Macdonald,
for Britain, will say in substance:
My country will not join with any
nation in any alliance or contract
which might result in its being
dragged into an unnecessary war. 1t
will not. in fact, make any alliance.
But it will agree on the part of the
tHiltu hlISuOIn 10 use us FORCES
against Germany if the League of Ma
tions shall certify that France has
been willfully and deliberately at
tackled without provocation.
Appeal to the League.
ITO this end it will advocate that
there be vested in the League of Ma
tions the power to decide on appeal
by any nation as to whether IL is
being wantonly attacked, and that
other nations. members of the league,
many enter into special agreements.
publicly proclaimed with the ap-
proval of the league, to assist each
other If the league decides any of
them are being made victims of an
unproyoked attack. Moreover, as be-
tween Britain and France, / am pre-.
pared to meet the Issue Of French
security by the promise to come to
the aid Of France or Belgium auto
matically when the league has de-
cided that either or both has been
attacked without warrant
Such An agreement would have
brought Britain into the World War,
but it would not have left any one
in doubt as to what the British would
do. 1t Is matter of common agree
ment the world over now that had
the Germans know in advance that
LII iHSdSlOH VI DclSluHl WOulu DEiHS
Britain is, they would not have run
the risk of war by supporting Aus
tfia in her Serbian policy. for all
-1erman military plans assumed the
invasion of Belgium in case Of wai
with Russia and France.
The obsession of the British, quite
like the French nightmare as 40 Sc
curity, is the dread of being dragged
into European struggles against
British interests. A very large ele-
ment in Br;te.h believes that Britain
vSS thus dragged into the World
War because Of Sir Edward Grey's
rather obscure diplomacy, his ar
rangements with France, which. II
they did not constitute legal con-
tract, did amount to a moral commit
ment. An Ramsey Macdonald be-
longs to this element.
Guarantee to France Opposed.
Since the Ruhr affair this British
feeling has been gravely aggravated
and there is bound to he widespread
opposition to any guarantee OF