Evening star., 1933-02-05
MOVE TO LIMIT LEAGUE
TO EUROPE DEVELOPING
Failure to Settle Manchurian and Gran
Chaco Disputes Brings Suggestion
for Curtailed Scope.
BY ALBIN E. JOHNSON.


fact that the League of Ma
tions. as a universal organi.
~ Zat!on." has suffered an almos
irreparable blow to its prestige
both through failure of its members tt
obtain an equitable settlement of tht
Manchurian dispute and, to certain
extent, because of its inability to copt
with the Paraguay Bolivian controversy
over the Gran Chaco, a strong tendency
is developing among certain nations t(
favor gradual transformation of the
League into a strictly European affair
On all sides it is frankly admitted
that, in dealing with war threats which
have arisen either in the Orient or II
South and Latin America. the League:
machinery his failed to function ef.
fectlvely. Fer this two excuses are Of
Tered: The absence of the United
States, Russia and the two great South
American powers, Brazil and Argentina
and secondly, Great Britain's hesitancy
TO back the League to the limit lever
with the cooperation of France, Italy
and Germany in eXtracontinental mat
ters which affect the interests of Rus
sla and the United States far more than
they involve the material or political
interests of England or the members OF
the League as whole.
1t is conceded that American or Rus
sian membership in the League is high
ly improbable-at least for years and
maybe decades to come. Yet, until those
Two countries, as well as the absent
South American states, feel inclined to
accept In full the responsibilities, as
well as the advantages, embodied in the
Leagues covenant. the League will be
unable to deal effectively with extra
r
informal concillation body, its services
are mutually desired by the disputants.
A Blessing in Disguise.
J2pans strenuous objection to Wash
mgton's and, incidentally, Moscow's.
participation in a cancellation COM
mission acting under the covenant" "
has been blessing in disguise to the
League. 1t has forced into the open
the debatable question of the effective
ness OF parallel action" by non-mem-
bers of the League with the League on
matters such as the Manchurian ques-
tlon. 1t was with considerable political
and Jurlolcal justification that japan
asked the question: IF we consent to
the United States sitting in Judgment
on the Sino-Japanese dispute will
washington consent to japan and
members OF the League sitting in judg-
ment on any dispute which might in
the future arise between it and another
power?" Naturally, Washington, had
the question gotten as far as the State
department, would have had to an
sWer mo-" Yet, in League affairs, as
well as personal matters, what is sauce
Tor the gander is sauce for the goose. "
In considering the Leagues future
ana 1t is being very seriously consid-
cred In European chancellories these
oays-the question CT voluntarily limit
ing the scope OF the Leagues political
actlon to strictly European affairs Is
repeatedly broached. Premier Mussolini
publicly enunciated Italys viewpoint
when he declared: You cannot stretch
the covenant to the Far East" His
reluctant admission that as an instru-
ment for dealing with European prob
lens the League was of great potential
value Is generally accepted It is point
ed out that in handling innumerable
quest1ons-the Greco-Bulgar affair, the
Corfu incident. the Polish Corridor and
Memel disputes, the Aaland Islands
award, minorities questions, the Straits
Commission and the interchange of
Greek and Turkish populations-th
League has played an important role.
In every instance it has brought about
a generally satisfactory and peaceful
settlement of the problem.
Outside Interference Vain.
On the other hand, as stated before,
every time it has gone outside of Eu-
rope Except in the case of MosuD-to
Tacna africa. the Gran Chaco and
Manchuria, and even to Liberia-it has
met almost insuperable difficulties or
has intervened in vain. The diSputantS
have listened politely to its admonitions
and then have gone ahead and done
exactly as they liked or dared. In the
nitely upon American and Russian CO.
operation proved too great handicap.
In Liberia, American priority of inter-
ests and complications arising out OF
the Firestone rubber concessions have
made international supervision difficult,
even though Liberia theoretically is
full -fledged member of the League.
That the League, at the present stage
OF international relations, Is 1ndlspen-
sable to Europe goes without argument.
Even Germany would put up strenu-
Gus fight to prevent its disintegration,
as is evidenced by her somewhat be-
lated defense of the covenant in the
present Manchurian affair. France still
finds the League her greatest political
security" Through it she has hopes OF
some day obtaining mutually accept
able disarmament formula. She has
neva protocol" under which all mem
bers of the League would be obligated
to come to the military defense OF
nation victim of unprovoked aggression.
Were Frances thesis in force at the
moment there never would have been
q "Manchurian affair."" since the entire
world would not only theoretically, but
actually, be at war with Japan because
of its invasion of Chinese territory.
Britain's Balance of Power"
Great Britain has found, and still
finds, the League the most useful IN
strument for carrying out her traol-
tional balance of power" policy on the
continent. At Geneva she can con-
veniently support, first France, then
Germany, then Italy, and so on, with.
out the necessity Of making eXplana-
tions. In the past decade, when france
has rushed to the support OF League
idea" Britain has usually cooled In her
enthusiasm for Geneva; when the
French tri-color drops to half-stan
then London hoists the union jack and
League. Perhaps no other League
member has been so realistically
and materialistic in using
the League to further its own national
interests as has England. One Tory
minister, who participated in the Mosul
debates, openly declared When it is
necessary to put across something with
out arousing suspicion, come to Geneva
to do it," Another British statesman
frankly stated that 1T would be to
Great Britain's interests to keep the
United States out of the League rather
than to urge her admission" Which
observation contains a great deal OF
truth, since England would probably
find her "dominions." with their six
votes, more often lined up with the
American delegations than with her
own.
In the Sino-Japanese dispute, how
eyer. Sir John Simon Brightly or wrong
ly) has had the reputation Of Saying
two words for England and one for the