Evening star., 1926-09-05
BY FRANkIH. SIMONDS.

y any forecast OF what IS TO
happen at the meeting of the as
sembly at Geneva it is essential
i first at all to recall the mai jor
circumstances of the special
meeting of the league last March. The
business of the March assembly. like
that Of the present gathering, was
primarily to admit Germany to the
league and bestow upon her that per-
manent seat on the council which 1t
was agreed at the Locarno meeting
should be hers. Moreover, the admis-
sion of Germany would thus consum-
mate the agreements of Locarno,
which were accepted the world oven
rs the promise, the first authentic
promise. of European peace.
The March meeting ended in fiasco
and failure for two different reasons:
First of ALL a fight between the Locar-
no powers over the ALLEGATION of addi-
tional seats in the council to Poland
Spain and Brazil, and, secondly,
when the Polish problem had been
disposed Of and the Locarno powers
were in agreement, by reason of the
veto of Brazil, which refused to as
sent to German admission unless Bra
I'll also received permanent seat.
Spain. while taking similar line, did
not actually interpose a veto, per-
haps. in part, because none was
necessary after Brazil had acted.
The fight over Poland was precipi-
tated by the insistence of France that
her Polish ally should have a perma-
nent seat on the council along with
Germany, thus insuring the Poles a
place of equal Importance with Ger
many when, inevitably, German Polish
issues should be raised. While in
sisting upon Poland's recognition.
France was favorable to Spanish and
Brazilian claims. Italy backed the
French hand; Britain, through austen
Chamberlain, had assented. but his in
huence wa7 paralyzed by a subse-
quent revolt of the whole British pub
Nc.
Charge Made of "Packing."
This revolt followed the public dec
taration of the German chancellor
that Germany would not enter the
league if at the same moment Poland
were to be elevated to a place of
equal Importance, and, as she argued,
the council was thus to be packed
against her. Germany did not object
in principle to seats for Brazil and
Spain; her target was Poland and she
was, in the nature of things, obliged to
insist that she come alone to establish
a principle.
Before the assembly met at Geneva
the whole controversy had been aired
in the press of Paris and Berlin and
situation had arisen where the pres
tige OF both the BRAND and Luther
Stresemann cabinets was involved.
and neither could hope to survive a
diplomatic defeat at Geneva. There
was then deadlock the moment the
Geneva sessions began. This dead
lock was complicated by the fall of
the BRAND cabinet, which made for
delay and the absence of the French
premier. and made his situation the
more delicate when he had formed a
new cabinet.
In the opening days of the session,
too, the deadlock was made absolute
because, while Germany was not a
member of the league and was there.
fore without a vote. although the
German representatives could threat
en- withdrawal in case of Polish eleva-
ton to permanent seat, Sweden, a
member holding a council seat, an
nounced that she would veto all ad-
missions save the German.
Compromise Is Accepted
Ten days Of futile and furious ne
gotiations led at last to an ingenious
and face-saving compromise which
was accepted by both Germany and
France, real antagonists in the quar-
rel. Sweden, having precipitated the
issue. proposed to retire from the
council in favor of Holland, while