Evening star., 1928-03-10
GENEVA PROTOCOL
SUCCESS DECLARED
IN HANDS OF i. S.
Editor Holds British Fear of
American Opposition to
Blockade Is Obstacle.
DISARMAMENT DEPENDS
ON WORLD POLITICS
Question of Security Will Come Up
at Resumption of Arms Ses.
sions Thursday.
nv WILLIAM MARTIN.

roreisn Editor the journal de Gcneve,
NJ Cable to The Star and ChicaEo Daily
News. Copyright, 19"S.
GENEVA. March 10.-The disarma-
naent commission of the League OF Ma
tsons, including strong American dele
cation. meets again next Thursday.
Some people think that Europe Is
not really interested in peace, that she
loves war and that she gladly sinks
billions in the bottomless pit OF arua-
nsents. What a mistake!
All the nations OF Europe are bowed
nrder this financial burden. All are
kaserfy awaiting the moment when they
tan be freed from it. Already most OF
then, have begun TO reduce their
armies, Il not on paper, at least in prac-
tice.
n disarmament fails to progress more
Rapidly It is because Of a lack OF mutual
Rhnfdence. European countries are not
N the fortunate situation OF the
United States, protected by two oceans
and having only two other relatively
weak and peaceful nations as neign-
Aors. Most of them are easily vuner-
able and It is impossible TO disarm them
without at the same time giving them
4he feeling that in the future they VIII
hever again be attacked
Z, s. Involved in Security.
Disarmament cannot be effected by
IN isolated act of will. 1t depends upon
renerai conditions Of world poiltics'
Americans would be gravely mistaken
II they imagine that they are oolgeo
70 play In disarmament merely the
passive role of spectators. II Is true
frat disarmament Of Europe is not di-
rectIy dependent upon disarmament OF
the United States. So far as land
arrnaments are concerned, there IS no
comparison and no rivalry between the
two continents. Even in fleets the riy-
airy Affects only Great Britain, which
has no European rival.
1t is therefore not in this field that
American influence can be exerted for
better or for worse. It is in the field
OF security. To understand this 1t Is
sufnc!ent TO recall the workings Of the
League of Nations covenant. Article
Is provides that In case OF aggression.
all the members shall combine against
the aggressor. II this system really
works the security OF nations may De
considered complete, for no country
would be able To withstand a world
coalition. But viii 1t work. Nobody
knows.
All European states are dependent on
their imports. All are dependent IN
wartime on outside credits A complete
blockade Of gold and supplies Is risk
that no state can run. To prevent all
war il is therefore sufficient 10 make
Article Is a reality in advance.
Dependent on America.
Now the fact is that European ma
tons, especially those which might
upon the United States, especially
have war-iike intentions, are dependent
financially. A sclear statement by the
American Government that In case Of
war il would allow no delivery OF sup
plies and no American credit TO a
state declared the aggressor by The
League Council would increase Euro
pean security 100 per cent and would
greatly hasten disarmament.
Nor lis this all The members OF the
League have found the covenant insutn-
cleni in one respect. II foresses desIs-
nation OF an aggreSSOr by unanimous
vote Of the council which Is condi-
ton perhaps difficult 70 realize. Il was
10 enable the designation Of an ag-
gressor automatically IN all cases that
1924. The protocol remained ineffective
because OF the objections OF Great Brit
ain. But at bottom Great Britain's OPP
position is based On fear Of conflict
wfth the United States In case she
should be obliged 10 enforce blockade
which the United States refuses 10
recognize. This fear naturally Is much
augmented bY the increase in the size
oi the American Navy. 1t would be
greatly diminished IL the United States
agreed 10 the rules OF blockade professed
-Jy Grea, Britain and which the United
States itself applied during the World
War. II would entirely disappear If the
American Government by clear state
FnPrt promised % refuse ~ aid ti4e ma
ton which the members of the League
Council unanimously declared TO be The
aggressor.
II is evident. therefore, that the
United States holds IN Us hands the
sccptiofl 0f the Geneva protocol, the
workings of the League covenant the
security of Europe and the future ~
cissFn3amEut.
Generally speaking. nobody doubts
the peaceful intent Of the United States
ESeryb6dy knows that IL would be- AL
most impossible for the United states
10 give even indirect cid To q nation
which shouic cause war This already
Has been once demonstrated What
matters is that the United States should
Ray So sld say 80 soon enough. When
EsF is declared IL viii be tso late, Just
sS wac Great Britain's taTdy inthTYeu-
ton ~ 1919, which two days earlier
solid have prevented war,
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