Evening star., 1926-12-12
GRAVE PROBLEMS FACED
BY EUROPE in NEW YEAR
Chinese Situation Checks British Com
mercial Recovery-Franco.Cerman
Relations Again Delicate

with Germany. Brands ideas OF en-
economic union with Germany hRvc
been arrested. At Geneva now he Ia
struggling to give something like face
value to his emotional words before
the League of Nations Assembly last
September. Now he is face to face
with Germany's emphatic demand for
complete evacuation Of the Rhineland
and freedom from military control.
Stresemann argues, reasonably
enough, that after the Locarno pact
and her entry into the League Of Ma
tions. Germany ought to be treated on
an equality with other nations and
she cannot be dealt with as both en-
emy and colleague. Left to themselves.
Stresemann and BRAND probably
would come to an amicable arrange
ment, abandoning strict Interpretation
Of the Versailles treaty for peaceful
and progressive understandings.
But they are not left to themselves.
Brands belief in Germany's good
faith is not shared by Poincare or
his friends. Generals and ex-ministers
and conservative groups In France
are reviving war memories and de-
nouncing this betrayal, as they call it,
Of those who died to save France.
They insist upon military control of
the Rhineland and resist any general
scheme Of European disarmament.
which was one of Brands plans.
Italy Another BOgey.
Then there Is another bogey fright
ening the French public opinion. 1t
Is the growing fear of Italy under
Mussolini and his black shirts. Dur
ing the past few days French troops
have been concentrating on the Ital-
ian frontier between Mentors and Ven-
timiglia in the Riviera. Old English
ladies' and retired officers basking in
Winter sunshine along the azure
coast have <been surprised during
their morning promenade by the sight
of French tanks and artillery and ma
chine gun sections passing toward
Italy.
Mussolini has severely rebuked his
Fascists in that region for provocative
| acts and demonstrations against
France. but popular passions are
and France is justified in protecting
her citizens from some sudden act by
local black shirts.
My own opinion Is that there 10 no
danger of war between France and
Italy at the present time, but this
state of affairs keeps nerves on edge
and is not helpful to the spirit OF
peace in Europe.
Chamberlain Seeks Peace.
Foreign Secretary Chamberlain is
having a busy and private conversa-
ton at Geneva with French. German
and Italian delegates. There is no
secret about his line of policy. 1t is
to get some effective compromise be-
tween France and Germany which
will be accepted not only by BRAND
and Stresemann, but by public opin-
ion in other countries, and to help
Italy and France to a friendly pact
which will relieve France of anxiety
and satisfy Italian aspirations.
1t Is not an easy part to play, but /
am personally convinced that neither
France, Germany nor Italy Is out for
international trouble Of any kind at
present. They are busy with internal
politics and business.
This year will end peacefully in Eu-
| rope, although its problems will not
be solved nor its political crisis avert.
ed. We move slowly toward those
united states of Europe, but there are
no signs of any near conclusion.
tCopyright. 1926.)