Evening star., 1927-03-31

VIII somebody page the League OF
Nations and tell about Italy's war in
Africa, and about Nicaragua, and
China. and even about the 2S major
wars which have been fought since
the League was organized? Like the
man who complained that he could not
see the woods for the trees. SO 1t
appears to the scoffers of the League
that they cannot see the organization
| to end wars for the battles.
In the London Times of March 16
appeared a news report from Geneva
! which began as follows:
The draft report of the committee
| of three Uord Cecil, NJ. Brouckere, NJ
TitelescW on the practical possibility
of preventive action by the Council of
the League of Nations in times OF
| international crisis was the subject OF
further examination today by the
committee of the Council, sitting under
the presidency of Herr Oppert of Ger.
many. and such progress was made
that late this evening the final report
was passed for submission to the June
meeting of the Council"
Part of the recommendation sug-
gests that where there is an immi.
nent threat of war" there should be
appeals to the disputing nations to
avoid a breach of the peace. All
agreed on the propriety of that "dras.
tic" action-"avoid q breach"
The report goes even further: But
when the clause was reached indicat-
ing possible action where a recalci-
trant state persisted in it's belligerent
preparations or actions, the debate be.
came lively. One suggested warning
measure was naval demonstration,
N nhioNtinn
TAKEN
A naval demonstration is certainly
frightful. for it means a parade of
ships of war with their war paint on,
all over. 1t does not mean the firing
of any shots, but the bugles on deck
may be seary enough to bring peace
at any price.
when, however, the proposal of an
air demonstration was reached there
was a marked divergence of views"
Japan objected to permitting air
craft to fly over foreign lands.
France, Czechoslovakia and Poland
favored airplane hints to keep the
peace. In fact. all middle Europe ia
vored the flyers. Great Britain kept
silent, but was believed TO favor air.
plane pressure on belligerents. The
final conclusion was, "It Is possible
that air demonstrations might. within
reasonable limits. be employed"
X
How repressive are "demonstra-
tions." either by land, water or air.
when the party to be impressed we'll
knows that 1t is all bluff and that
no shots or bombs will back up the
parades.
The final report indicates that
where the threat of war is acute it is
recommended that the acting presi-
dent of the League should send tele-
graphic appeals mot wait for maiD.
even before the Council meets, for
abstention from hostile acts" Then
when the Council is called to order 1t
may indicate what troops should stay
In camp and not show their guns.
Also the Council will have it's own
experts. who would serve az reporters
to the League, as to whether its orders
or recommendations are being needed.
As a stinger at the end of the re-
port is this paragraph:
"If. in spite of all steps here recon.
mended,, resort to war takes place,
1t is probable that events will have
made it possible to say which state is
the aggressor, and in consequence 1t
will be possible to enforce more rap
idly and effectively the provisions of
Article XVI"
The German delegate PRESIDED!
Crying Peace. peace!' when there is
no peace"'
X X
The other scare heads on the
lame page of the London Times were
Border Raids in Morocco" ''The
French Casualties" French Policy in
China, - South African Indian Agree
ment" and Renewed Fighting in
Nicaragua"
This date March 16) was prior to
the serious international complications
in China, which have brought the
navies of the world not merely to
demonstrate" but to lombard in de-
fense of the nationals of Europe and
America. According to the League for
mula. 1t may he now possible to dis
cover who Is Ahe aggressor in that
Chinese crisis Then what?
TAs answez all queries as to why