Evening star., 1926-03-23

GENEVA.-In the first estimate of
the results of the Geneva flasco one
fact stands out beyond all else. AL
though Germany has not entered the
League Of Nations and her position at
times here seemed likely to become hu-
initiating. she emerges with an unmis-
taxable gain Of prestige. She has
successfully maintained her position
that the council Of the league should
not be increased beyond the Locarno
limit, actually or apparently to her
detriment, but she has by concession
escaped from any appearance of
obstinacy or turbulence.
In her first appearance at the world
assembly since the war she has re
sumed her position as a great power.
The fact that she did not enter has
evoked expressions of regret as i'm
pressive as any applause which might
have attended her entrance. More
over, it is now clear that her return
will be sought eagerly by all nations
| for whom the LocarnO pact Is impor-
tant. Germany Is in a position now,
| too, having come once in vain, to ask
| not only assurances but even cOndi-
tions on her return.
AS Germany has won in many di-
rections, Britain has certainly lost,
since British influence has at all
times been insignificant and the
failure Of Chamberlain q source OF
| humiliation. But 80 far as Great
Britain is concerned, no material in
| jury has been done, for the British
position remains too strong to be al
fected. Chamberlain, to the British
1rn11 20 tCnn
!: !: X X
BY contrast, while BRAND has won
new golden opinions by his efforts,
, the real failure and true defeat of the
conference have been French. Seek
ing to procure admission for Poland,
| France has not only not succeeded
but has weakened her position by sac
| rif1cing not alone Czechoslovakia but
the feelings Of the little entente,
which resents the effort to seat
Poland at its expense.
I All things considered, Luther ana
Stresemann may well succeed In meet
| ing home criticism and continuing in
! Office. Chamberlain, by contrast, seems
/ certain to be retired, while BRAND has
not been able to reconstruct his po-
litical situation at home by foreign
| success and seems doomed to fall with
his new cabinet.
The influence Of Italy has not been
definitely expressed. but it has been
generally appreciated that behind the
scenes Italy has been working for the
reconstruction Of central Europe under
her direction, thus to replace France
at Belgrade and Bucharest, in the
little entente generally. How far italy
[ is indirectly responsible for the Bra
I {t,1 oP ins>f
but given Italy's open hostility to the
league, its present misfortune and fail
ure are bound to he counted aS salts
factory to her
| X x !. X
| Changes in the French, Polish and
British cabinets seem inevitable. The
whole political machinery Of Europe
may be transformed, yet one Of the
rather surprising repercussions is the
growing conviction, met on all sides
that, SO far from compromising, this
latest meeting at Geneva may tend
relations. Only the passing Of BRAND
and the coming of Poincare might in
terrupt the unmistakable current OF
reconciliation.
| But, obscure as the international
consequences are, apart from the Ger.
man aspect, there Is q common agree
ment that the League Of Nations has
| suffered a shattering blow. It's sup
porters i'll various countries are all
aware Of the battle they have now to
wage for it at home. In the first phase
of the recent conference the pact OF
Locarno seemed to be in danger. But
that danger. on the surface, at least.
has been avoided. There are many
reasons for accepting DR.. Strese.
MAINS assurance that for Germany,