Evening star., 1924-06-01
Continued from First Page.)

tify French supremacy on the conti-
nent by a system Of alliances.
There are two other courses open
to the French ministry which Is now
to take office. 1t may seek to arrive
at an understanding with Great Brit
ain on terms which are possible. 1t
may undertake the even more diff
cult task of reaching some form Of
tween the two courses, one might
SGTJecture that the preference of Her
riot would be for Germany, since the
mantle of Caillaux has fallen upon his
shoulders. while BRAND would, by
preference, seek to restore something
of the old friendship between Britain
and France. But any understanding
with Britain would now have to be
based upon some considerable recog-
milton of MacDonald's aspirations for
the league Of nations. BY contrast,
an understanding with Germany
would in the nature of things start
with some form of association of the
Ruhr and Lorraine iron and coal in
dustries and at some stage. still re-
mote, aim at Britain, II only economi-
cally.
Now we have had fairly clearly
sketched what Macdonald would like
to make of the league. He would not
consent to any Franco-British alli-
ance. He would not consent to any
treaty of guarantee made directly be-
hy haancs that Rran as would
come to the aid of France, If she were
wantonly attacked by Germany-and
i think he would hardly hesitate, IL it
were left to him, over an agreement,
to support Germany in case of wan
ton French attack.
Wants League OF influence.
Far beyond all this detail, however,
he would like to make of the league a
body with real influence. So far only
minor questions have been referred
to the league. There have been wars
since its creation, that between Po-
land and Russia and that between
Greece and Turkey rising to the dig
nifty of considerable conflicts, and the
league has not been able to act
more important disputes between
great powers, disputes between
France and Britain, France and Ger
many, ETC., and the league has not
been able to intervene.
SO far, the league, despite its hand
ling Of certain affairs like those of
Upper Silesia and Memel. has been no
more than a sideshow. Its best serv
ice, perhaps, that of salvaging Aus
1ria, has been economic rather than
political and without any relation to
peace or war. The great problems
which still divide Europe. those OF
separations. security. armaments and
the like, have been discussed. so far
as they have been discussed effective
ly, between nations over the green
table, not around the Geneva board.
The conference of ambassadors, not
the council Of the league of nations,
has been the dominant force in Eu-
rope since the Paris conference ad-
journed. When there was no agree
1nent in this conference, as was fire.
auent, then there was chaos, in Eu-
rope In the meantime the league
had been dealing with minor ques-
tions, creating and operating ma
chine which 1t was hoped by the pro-
leaguers. might one day become pos
sessed of sutfcient prestige and ex-
perience to take over larger and more
vital matters.
Largest Possible Settlement.
OF these the largest obviously
would be that of reparations and Sc
curity, to take the two together; In
other words the greatest thing that
could conceivably fall to the lot OF the
league to administer would be a set
tlement actually reached between
Germany, France and Britain, with
Belgium and Italy subscribing, this
settlement to cover both the matter
of German payment to France ana
some guarantee of peace In Europe
peace between Germany and her
neighbors. Insofar as the hnancial
phase was concerned, the league
might repeat its Austrian operation
on an enormously increased scale, IN
sofar as the matter OF security was
concerned, 1t might provide the moral
Influence in any new dispute.it might,
for example, decide whether Some new
threat to the peace OF Europe were
1nstif1nd or mere aggression.
Now Macdonald is very sure TO at
tempt to persuade Europe, which in
with Russia In the background. to
consent to the expansion or the
lea ague. He'is bound to seek TO pre-.
vent the temperance in Europe OF
rival systems of alliances, 10 one on
which Britain will. in the enu De
forced to join herself, as she joined
herself to the Franco Russian com
bination before the world war. ne
will begin by insisting that germany
he permitted to join the league ano ne
will seek to persuade her to join, nav
ing persuaded France to consent TO
the admission of Germany.
Has Chance to Succeed.
A, 7 said before, he had small
rhance of great success before Poin-
rare was beaten. He has real
chance now Of obtaining French ac-
uuiescence up to a certain point.
France il going presently to retire
from the Ruhr, and French opposi-
tion to German admittance into the
league can be assumed to disappear
Irance will watch the British cam
naign for the league with something
iike benevolent interest, provided
rnIy the expansion of the league does
not involve the surrender of french
Claims for; reparations, and provided
some way be found through the
league to insure france against
German war of revenge.
Vet nothing Is more certain than
that presently we shall see re-
newal of the old battle between
british and French conceptiohs OF
The league. The French Will JOIN
the British in the EFFORT 10 ,g; g''s fnsist .nt
.haf with authority goes power. that
the league shall not only nave the
,,ission to decide, but the means 10
nsorca decision. This was what Leon
Rnnreeois asked for the league IN
sha days Of the Paris conterence,
when he argued that the ieasuee
should be end9weddi l9sndinS Wan army, or at
3sast. should be able to draw upon
1he allied and associated powers, pc
come members of the league, Tor the
necessary police force.
Disarmament Impossible.
Failing such force. the league
could not, in the French mind ana
IN the minds Of continentals gener-
ally, function successfully and there
,o,,,d he no question Of disarmament.
rbe league would not be able to
n-oyide security to Insure protection