Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-10
EVENTS In EUROPE HELD
POSSIBLE OF SOLUTION
War Menace Considered Present, But
Situation Different From 1914.
Borah's Views Discussed.

IdC6 the FORCES OF fO4dUQ anu tHu"
mania, organized and equipped on
western lines and able to draw upon
the west, upon Britain and upon
France, for munitions and material, Is
utterly unlikely. Formidable In the
face Of domestic attack, the Russian
army is in no condition to meet a
sustained foreign campaign.
Thirteen years ago Europe was
dominated by great powers whose peo-
pies all believed that their safety was
definitely and Immediately in danger
and there were millions who believed
that war was escapable only at the
sacrifice of national independence.
And at the same time the states.
great and small, were so inextricably
joined that it was impossible for any
crisis to arise in which two groups
would not at once come into collision.
Today, physically and mentally, the
European situation is totally different.
France. Germany and Great Britain
are in a position to cooperate for the
preservation of peace. and the vast
mass of the populations of these coun-
tries in the face Of any crisis would
impose such cooperation upon their
governments.
The French, German and British
people would refuse to permit war,
save in the clear case Of national dan.
ger, which does not anywhere exist.
1t is possible that war might break
out between Italy and Jugoslavia, be-
tween Russia on the one hand and Ru.
mania and Poland on the other, but
in such case it is we'll nigh incredi.
BILE that France, Germany or Britain
would intervene and certain that they
would not take different sides.
The very fluid state of Europe,
which excites anxiety and seems to
deny hopes of prompt reconstruction,
constitutes degree of safety. Just
as long as there is no chance Of two
groups of powers in Europe being
brought to war over some dispute
which, like the Austro.Serbian, in.
is no real parallel between 1927 and
1914.
On the other hand, precisely as long
as there exists two descriptive forces
like Bolshevism and Fascism, each at
bottom a deliberate undertaking to
destroy the existing political and eco.
nomic system by which the balance
of European states lives, European
peace in the larger sense cannot be
consolidated.
WiIIUE Uses served.
And while Russia remains outside
the League of Nations and Italian
membership is purely nominal and
totally formal, neither the League nor
the conception which Is behind the
League can serve any but the most
minor uses in forwarding European
reconstruction or advancing the cause
OF enduring peace. 1t is impossible
with poIr
cause it is. itself. a state Of war
against western institutions It IL
Just as impossible to make war upon
Russia, because that would be to
rouse Russian nationalism to the sup
port OF Bolshevism and repeat the ex.
perience of the French Revolution.
It is impossible to make any per-
manent adjustment with Fascisn.
because not only does the program
of Mussolini envisage the total
abolition of democratic institutions,
but 1T also contemplates an expan-
sion OF Italian frontiers in a fashion
which is impossible save by war and
an extension of Italian hegemony
winch Will be endured by none Of the
countries Immediately concerned.
But it is just as impossible. for the
same reason as in the Russian case,
to make war upon Fascismo without
war upon the Italian people.
Relations Called Better.
Despite all Poincare's Nominations,
Franco German relations have I'M
1ergone an enormous amelioration
and there are many millions of men
and women in each country resolved
10 press forward. And in the same
sense Franco-British relations, which
1924, have been restored to a sound
basis. In both France and
Germany, extreme nationalism exists
and Is vocal. But there is nothing
m the relations between the two
which suggests war now
Or in any future worth considering.
But France, Germany and Great
Britain cannot together reorganiZe
Europe, even when supported by most
Of the smaller states and when they
ire working in close cooperation.
They cannot coerce Russia, they can.
not convert Italy. They cannot carry
Locarno to any logical conclusion.
Moreover, the double menace OF
Bolshevism and Fascism, acting upon
The states bordering Russia and Italy,
must steadily keep alive apprehension,
stimulate intrigue, give the outward
appearance Of universal European un-
rest and of enduring danger OF war.
Peace Situation Explained.
Peace in Europe in the real sense
II the word can be insured only to
he degree that the peoples and gov.
Of the great powers, Russia
md Italy included, working with the
smaller, seek the same ends. Because
France, Germany and Great Britain
lave made Locarno, Franco-German
PEACE has been established, but
European peace waits upon the hour
when the Russian and Italian people
ire prepared to follow centripetal and
lot centrifugal policies, and aim, not
It the overthrow Of the existing order
n Europe, but at the consolidation
If international cooperation.
The World War destroyed one
europe, but out of the wreckage not
| new Europe but three totally diff.
arent and utterly hostile and mutually
exclusive regimes have arisen. Anglo.
German, Franco-German and Austro.
Russian rivalries, which precipitated
he 1914 tragedy, no longer constf-
ute dangers to European peace.
Therefore it is futile to talk about
he new European problem In terms
If the old. What is hopeful, more.
>ver, is that while the old problem
vas immediate, the present is only
eventual.
Copyright. 1877