Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-20
BRITISH TRY TO ALLEVIATE
GERMANS AND RUSSIANS
New Era in European History Seen If
London Has Same Success With
Berlin as With Rome.

ritorial sacrifices both To the Germans
ana the Russians. Between France
ana Britain. as a consequence. there
has always been a difference i'm motley
The French have insisted that peace
IN Europe was identical with the
status quo, and any effort to change
frontiers would bring war
Now, however, the British are pat
ently inclining 10 the French view
Faced with Russian hostility. which
has done them great injury in China
ana is an enduring menace In India.
tneF are anxious to strengthen the
European neighbOrs of Russia. For
them both Poland and Rumania be.
come valuable allies. And lust as
clearly the Poles and the Rumanians
can now look TO Britain for aid In case
OF Russian offensive
But this puts the Germans In an
awkward dilemma. In fact they are
almost inevitably forced to decide be
tween the Russian and British orien.
tation. If they decide for the Russian
and thus continue a hostile policy
toward Poland. British resentment is
inevitable and there is an end of Brit
ism support of any early evacuation.
On the other hand If they abandon
the Russian association, they must see
Poland, aided financially by British
and even American capital. develop
rapidly and become a strong and pros
porous country.
See War in Changes.
In the midst of all these more or
less obscure diplomatic and political
operations, however. one fact stands
out. More and more the idea is gain
ing ground in Europe that revision
Of the fnrrifOr{aI rIavuac rP
treaties is not possible save at the
cost of a new war. Peace and status
quo are becoming interchangeable
terms
LOCarno was a long step toward
the establishment of an atmosphere
of peace. But it did not much affect
the Eastern situation. True, the
Germans did promise not to try to re.
wise frontiers by force. but they just
as clearly indicated their intention to
seek revision through the League.
For this program they confidently
counted on British support Now this
support is probably lost, temporarily. =
II not permanently.
For the British two things are now
desirable, even outside the area OF
Russian problems. The British eco
non1ic situation demands the largest
possible degree of peace in Europe, =
with the corresponding maximum of
purchasing power. The British DO
litical situation demands the proven
ton of the creation of any new sys-
tenn of alliance such as preceded the
World War and in British opinion
precipitated it.
To preserve peace between France
and Germany. to prevent any Franco
Italian quarrel. to create gradually a
general European combination
against Soviet Russia, these are the
main lines in British policy. But
beyond this lies the obvious fact
that the whole continental situation
is such that British leadership in Eu-
rope is again possible for the first
time since the war. 1t is to London
and not to Paris that both the Ger
mans and the Italians are likely TO
turn increasingly in the next few
years.
May Seek United States Aid.
Once freed Of the nightmare of
territorial amputations or military AZ.
tacks, Poland, Czechoslovakia and Ru.
mania also are likely to seek In Lon.
Ion and New York the financial as.
sistance which they cannot obtain in
Paris. Precisely as long as the
french army was the sole guarantor
- NAAS S~SAAAAy VI many states, fTG0Cn
influence on the continent was bound
10 remain supreme. But once the
atmosphere of peace and security is
money power will be far
more potent than military power.
Thus, unless all signs fail, Europe
s entering upon a period In which
British ascendancy will be increas-
ngly apparent. Nor is IT too much
o conjecture that the British see in
he preliminary arms conference be
ween America, Japan and themselves.
by President Coolidge. new
Possibilities. An association between
ne great sea powers, which would, in
act, mean an understanding between
he two Anglo-Saxon nations, would
ave almost tncalculable repercussions
Europe. Sea power and money
'ower would thus be associated. while
Military power would lose much. II
lot all, of its Importance.
But the most important single de-
all in the whole combination is pat.
ntiy the Russian. If British diplo.
macy can now separate Germany from
russia, finally, as it has separated
tally; II Germany, by promises of
arly evacuation now and even Of
olonial expansion later. can be
rought to renounce the Russian orf
ntation, new period in European
istory Is certainly at hand.
Copyright 1927