Evening star., 1926-09-26
The League as a Battle Ground

of much Of the treaty of Versailles. although
by no means ALL
The French are here to defend the treaty
They have assented to German admission oe-
cause they believe Germany, under the lnnu'
ence Of the League. in which France is strong
and has many friends can best be opposed
here. But the French in no MOOD 10
part with anything which they hold, even Tor
a short time, only they are paid In
larger way They still hold out for the IN
tegrity Of Poland and the per7nanence Of the
treaty Of Versailles. terl1torially at least, as
the recent episode demonst rated.
Nothing is less exact than to believe that
either France or Germany accepts the League
as place Of peace. On the contrary for
both it is the battle-ground on which for vary
ing reasons they prefer to Join battle-and the
battle is just beginning.
The American observer Of events at Geneva
must always be his guard against appear
ances. The European is at less Disadvantage
because he knows all the machinery by which
foreign Offices operate. He sees behind the
scenes to a degree and never for a moment
imagines that what is actually on the stage
represents anything but a dy-traGedy ar
ranged for the audience-not to be sure, pres
ent. but the reading world Of the press. The
European knows that the battle between for-
eign Offices is eternal and follows lines which
are little modified by the centuries. He never
weepe over the preamble and is little impressed
by announcement of agreement in principle
He is realistic sophisticated, not too hopeful.
X X X X
The American, the contrary, sees abso-
lutelv nothing Of what actually goes on. He
is not even informed of the months OF pre-
liminary fighting in conference, of the cool,
realistic bargains which have been struck In
advance, often enough a the expense either or
League principles the real rights OF the
smaller nations within and without the League.
The drama which he actually witnesses in his
eyes is spontaneous and complete. He does
not read the comment of Berlin, Paris and
Rome nevspa pers; he does not see Old Europe
moving along its familiar pathway with only
slight variation Of pace. Then one day there
comes a surprise--the occupation OF Corfu
war between Poland and Turkey Nothing
happens Of all he had expected.
Every one here is conscious that a great
period Of the Franco-German controversy is
beginning-not ending-at Geneva. The danger
of war is not avoided by the fact that both
have come here, but both have agreed to come
here because neither had the remotest notion
of fighting now in any future which Is
now worth considering. They cannot fight;
neither do they want to fight. But Germany
thinks she can gain more by being here than
by staying horne. France believes she can lose
less with Germany here than without. But
both have brought here all the machinery and
methods of their foreign offices: both are at
all times completely controlled by their own
domestic public opinion and interests.
The most important fact about the League
is not that It contributes. or can materially
contribute to making peace or keeping 1t be-
tween nations which are resolved to fight, but
that all save perhaps Of the great powers,
0ontinued on Third Page)