Evening star., 1932-04-28
Fiasco at Geneva.

Secretary Stimson is leaving Geneva
a sadder but wiser man. His mis-
sion Of Franco-German mediation was
French Premier Tardieus inability to
meet the American Secretary Of State,
the British prime minister, the Ger
man chancellor and the Italian foreign
minister under Col Stimson's aegis.
Instead of presiding over Big Five"
Conference tomorrow, as he hoped to
do, Secretary Stimson will leave Geneva
and return directly to the United
States. Confessing his disappointment,
he contents himself with the reflection
that his trip does not represent wasted
time, because it has given him first
hand knowledge of European leaders
and their problems. Close acquaint-
ance can hardly have strengthened Col
Stimsons faith in the Old World S
peace protestations.
The cancellation Of NJ. Tardieus
Geneva visit was officially caused by the
premier's attack of laryngitis. Europe
has a word for the indisposition that
0vertakes statesmen at critical moments
1t is known as diplomatic sickness"
On the very eve of the French parlia-
mentary elections it was almost too
much to expect that M. Tardieu would
desert an arena in which his political
existence is at stake in order to discuss
international commitments that might
embarrass him in that crucial contest.
To paraphrase famous French aphor-
ism, it would have been magnificent,
but it would not be politics
Chancellor Bruening was ready to
discuss Franco German relations under
the benevolently neutral eyes Of Secre-
tary Stimson and Prime Minister Mac
Donald. But since last Sundays Ger
man election results the question was
bound to arise whether Dr. Bruening
any longer has that free-hand authority
which he possessed before Hitlers party
became the strongest political organiza-
tion in the Reich. Altogether, it was
Secretary Stimsons misfortune to time
his Franco German peace conference
for this witching hour. Circumstances
in both countries foredoomed 1t to
futility.
Secretary Stimson craved to enact the
role of honest broker in hquidating
Franco-German animosities because, as
a realist, he realizes that until these
are removed the way can never be
paved for substantial disarmament. OF
almost equally essential importance is
naval accord between France and
Italy. Progress in that direction, too,
is conspicuous by its absence. BY and
large Europe Is at the same crossroads
of discord and despair as before Geneva
swung into the laborious efforts now
headed for ignomlnious collapse
Distinctly the most important aspect
of these doleful developments, as far as
this country is concerned, is the Franco
Italian naval impasse. The London
treaty'S "escalator" clause authorizes
Great Britain, Japan and the United
States to build beyond treaty levels II
! they believe their own building pro-
grams are threatened by -signatory
powers. The British are now spprehen-
sive that they may have to invoke the
clause because CT the failure of France
and Italy to restrict construction plans
II Britain builds, We cannot stand idle
nor will Japan.
There is Cne lesson at least which
Congress should not hesitate any longer
to draw from the fiasco of Geneva. II
should realize that the time has com.
TO build the United States Navy forth
with up to the London treaty limits, a,
provided in the Hale bill now pending
in the Senate. When that is done. il
will be soon enough, should the unUel-
! come contingency confront us, to make
use of our own "escalator" rights.
Current events in Asia and now il
Europe, demand the treaty Navy,