Evening star., 1927-12-05
EUROPE'S DANGER
LIES ON BOUNDARY
Russian Border Is Location
of Sore Spots Which May
KindIe Flame.

By Radio to The Star.
PARIS, December 5.-The present
European irnbroglio must strike most
Americans as utterly inexplicable. 1t
is quite natural that the United States
declines to put its finger in such an
erratic machine. Nevertheless, Amer
lea must keep watch to prevent any
maneuver which might encourage the
rebirth Of war.like mentality in
Europe.
Europe's sore spots at present are
along the borders of Soviet Russia.
and that makes them particularly
dangerous.
The sudden death of Premier lionel
Bratianu Of Rumania, following the
acquittal of M. Manoilescu, leader of
the Peoples Party, who had raised the
question Of Prince Carols return.
demonstrated the principal defect in
dictatorial system-namely, the pos
sibility of the sudden disappearance
Of the dictator.
System Involves Risk.
Benevolent tyranny would be an
ideal regime. IL there were no risk of
its being followed by a less benevolent
tyrant.
The situation in Bucharest remains
trouble in the annexed territories Of
Bessarabia, Pennsylvania and Bukov-
ina, while Premier Vintila Bratianu.
who lacks his brothers. political genius.
negotiates with the opposition parties.
Will he succeed in forming Ma
tional Union cabinet? 1t would greatly
aid the country, which seeks credits in
London. while refusing to pay i'm.
mense debts to France.
Meanwhile on the Baltic another
episode in the old conflict between
Poland and Lithuania is being enacted.
Hope Held for Appeasal.
II was thought Moscow and Berlin
would act together, both in the Lithu.
anian affair and in the disarmament
question, but Comrade Litvinon Is an
embarrassing partner to have. Count
Won Bernstorff has handled him
cleverly without disposing of him en-
tirely, however, and when Dictator
Pilsudski of Poland comes in person
to discuss the Lithuanian affair before
all the nations at Geneva it Is hoped
the discord will be appeased.
Finally, Foreign Minister BRAND, in
the Chamber of Deputies the other
day, put the quietus on talk of Franco
Italian friction. War between these
arouse universal reprobation. And,
what M. BRAND failed to mention, 1t
would be doubly fratricidal, for an i'm.
mense number of Italians would op.
pose it at the risk Of their lives.
France does not seek q hegemony
Of Europe nor of the Balkans where
she desires only to maintain the status
quo) nor elsewhere. But it must be
remembered that Italy entered the
war crying Trent and Trieste to
Italy! and in obtaining Fiume got
more than she sought.
Albanian Treaty Forms Danger.
Italy has sufficient outlets to the
Mediterranean and controls the Adri-
attic sufficiently so that she does not
need to strangle her neighbor, Jugo-
slavia, altogether. If Italy's intentions
are innocent the government can cas-
ily prove it. Unfortunately, Corfu Is
a disquieting precedent and the Alba
nian treaty is an element Of danger.
1t must not be forgotten that a
Franco-German peace entente, which
Great Britain accepts, is the greatest
guarantee Of European peace and will
dominate any conflict.
Z Despite the failure Of the tripower
naval conference, despit Lloyd
1CViScS AuUItudl Ddu ldItI, LOiluOu
has just set good example in can.
ceiling plans for construction Of two
cruisers, and America would make
a mistake in dismissing this as mere
bluff.
Europe awaits impatiently Presi.
dent Coolidge's message on this sub
ject. The United States. which has no
enemy to fear, surely can give the
world salutary lesson.