The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-05-24

tOrlOuS nations.
The treaties, however, aCknowl-
edged the right of the vanquished
to seek revision by diplomatic
means, which, in fact, amounts to
the right to attempt to persuade
the victors to consent to changes.
The treaties also contained
promise that the victory eventually
would reduce their own ornaments
to the level stipulated for the van
pushed.
The present crisis at Geneva
turns upon the fact that Germany
is demanding definite action by
France to reduce her ornaments.
Thus far France has refused to
take action, on the ground that the
superiority of French ornaments IS
the only existing guarantee Of the
present frontiers.
TITO this French thesis the Ger
Il man government, rOug h
Chancellor Hitler, has responded
with public pledge that Germany
would not seek to change the from
tiers except by the pacific means
provided for in the treaties
The French reply is that pacific
pledges by a nation which has a
deep sense of grievance can not be
relied upon, and that Germany, any
Germany, but perhaps particularly
Nazi Germany will in the end force
as much revision as it can.
In the last analysis the French
position is that since Germany is
in moral rebellion against the Yer
Sailles treaty, what counts is not
what Germany says she will do
about frontiers, but what Germany
can do about them. The disarma-
ment of France would enable Ger
many to do a great deal
All the pledges of peace, which
are backed only by public opinion do
not, as the French see it, meet the
issue What is to be done if Ger
many, made powerful by having
equal ornaments. follows the prece-
dent set by Japan, and on the
ground of national necessity and
with a conviction of moral right,
moves to rectify the frontiers?
To put this question is in effect to
ask Great Britain and the United
States what they are prepared to
do to prevent the status quo from
being disturbed by force.
ON the answers which Britain
~ and America give to France de-
ponds the amount of disarmament
to which France will consent. For
the French, it must always be re-
membered, have no illusions about
the frontiers of Versailles. They
know they were imposed by force.
The probable European disarma-
ment is, therefore, dependent upon
the guarantees which Great Britain
and the United States are prepared
to give that frontiers will not be
revised by force.
The problem is difficult because
it requires that France, Poland and
the little entente should accept
pledges of future action from Lon
don and washington as a partial
substitute for the actual power of
big guns. tanks and aircraft.
The new element in the proposal
at Geneva is the promise that if the
United States agrees with the judg-
ment of the powers it will not en-
force its neutral rights if the Euro
pean powers blockade and coerce an
agRreSSor.
The exact words are that "if we
concur in the Judgment rendered as
to tn responsible and guilty party,
we will refrain from any action
tending to defeat such collective eff
fort"
We do not it should be noted.
promise to join that collective effort.
We promise no positive action of
our own.
NTHAT, then. does the promise
w amount to? In substance it
amounts to saying that it is for |
Great Britain to declare how far
she will go in supporting status quo. |
The promise offers nothing direct |
~ to France; France will not re-
gard as important a pledge to re-
frain. The promise is an invitation
to Great Britain to define her
policy For it is Britain, and Britain
alone which is able to provide
France with a security equal to
actual ornaments.
Ever since the American rejection
of the league. Britain, because of
American neutrality. has considered
herself inhibited from defining her
policy.
BY the American offer at Geneva.
that inhibition is greatly reduced. if
not wholly removed.
IT would therefore appear that
i the next substantial move toward
reduction of ornaments must be
made not in Berlin, or Rome, or
Paris, or Washington, but in Lon
don.
The United States has offered to
refrain from defeating collective
action to maintain peace. 1T now