Evening star., 1933-02-05

| OlQ IOC DeueVe LQe honorable repre-
sentative for England had made such a
remark, but, if he had, it was not in
conformity with facts.
Balkan Problems Rankle.
Down in the Balkans Bulgaria, Aus
tria, Hungary. Rumania and Yugo-
slavia-they attach a great deal of
value to the League. In this cock
pit Cf Europe. Whe-e wars have been
b-eNed for centuries. there are many
postwar problems still unTolveh. These
run the entire gamut of social, eco
nomlc, financial political, territorial
down to traditional rivalries. There is
the internationaiZation of the Danube,
the outlets to the Black, Aegean and
Adrlatlc; the Macedonian question,
minorities and miXed-up populations
all thorny, which rankle War could
versies were it not for the ameliorating
influence of the concert of European
powers exercised through the medium
Of the League covenant.
Likewise, in the Baltic-Finland. Es-
thonia, Latvia and Lithuania-they
consider the League the greatest bull
wark against possible Russian aggres-
sion. Lithuania hopes that, between
the League and Germany, she will
eventually obtain satisfaction from Po-
land over Wilma. The Firms and Lat
vians are not particularly worried so
long as Russia's attention is riveted on
the Far East, but nevertheless, they
have great faith in Geneva'S potential
powers. particularly since their interests
are those Of other -Communistic
Western countries.
Poland Bound to League.
Poland, as presently constituted. owes
her continued existence almost entirely
to the League. AS long as the covenant
guarantees the Polish Corridor, she is
reasonably safe from attack. The Ger
mans, however, will not tolerate the
present state of affairs indefinitely. The
French, too, are showing an indication
of weakening their military commit
ments in the East and would gladly see
an amicable adjustment OF the Polish
German difficulties. Both Germany
and Poland are currying the favor
of Soviet Russia, largely because of
the Corridor question. Czechoslovakia,
alone of the succession states, has no
major political problems. Once her
dispute with Hungary over a small
amount of territory is settled Prague
can stand aside TRANQUILITY, although her
geographical position makes her eco
nomic prosperity dependent upon Euro
pean stability.
Greece. Portugal, Spain and Turkey,
while outside the orbit of continental
affairs, are, to a certain extent. mex
tricably bound up with Europe's major
political problems. For Spain and
Portugal there is the Straits of Gibral-
tar and Morocco, as we'll as African
colonies. 1t is not so long ago that
there was talk of forcing Portugal to
cede her colonies to Germany. Only
through the League could Lisbon de-
fend its rights Greece and Turkey are
interested in the Dardanelles, the Bos-
phorus and Suez Canal, their outlets
to the trade marts of the Seven Seas,
and also have financial and economic
interests which center at Geneva.
Scandinavia Free.
Only the Scandinavian countries
Denmark, Norway and Sweden-and. to
a certain extent, Holland, are compare
lively free of European political COM
plications. But here again their geo..
graphic position makes them victims OF
economic and financial disturbances.
Serious disorders in Europe would nave
immediate effects in these countries.
If the League were to face frankly
the predicament in which it finds itself.
through the present inappicablilty OF
the principle Of universally, 1t would
thereby automatically free itself OF Sc
rious political handicaps. For example:
Rriand's dream of a United States of
Europe would be far more easy to at
tain through the League if the obstruc-
tions of overseas countries, who fear
they might be adversely affected, were
removed. The scheme, for the moment,
is shelved (being in the hands OF the
Leagues Committee for European
Union), but, like the Geneva protocol,
it's ghost stalks occasionally through
the halls of the secretariat Abandon
ment of the ambitious hope OF uni
versatility" and concentration by the
League on Europe's own immediate
problems, would make a "pan-Europa'
almost an actuality, with the Geneva
organization as sort OF european
parliament" advocates of the idea point
out.
Covenant Would Stand.
The suggestion of curtailing the
Leagues essential activities-and, Incl
dentally, its commitments and obl1ga-
tions-to matters which it can more
easily handle is not based upon any op-
position to the theory of universally.
It is merely an honest recognition OF
facts and admission of the Leagues
limitations so long as the United States
and Russia refuse to become members.
There would be no need to revise or
amend the covenant, 1t Is argued. |
Merely a tacit understanding that the
covenant would not be invoked in mat
tiers which would tax its strength, Is
considered enough. Articles 10, IL, Is
and 16 of the covenant-which imply
sanctions-would be invoked only where
nI, Nf cyIno ynrn
purely European controversies where
peaceful settlement admittedly would be
desirable for all parties.
Overseas questions in which the
League would continue to take an active
interest would be economic, humani-
tartan and social-Zones where its use
fulness is unanimously recognized and
undisputed.
Then in the near, or distant, future
when the United States and Russia
would be more inclined to join whole
heartedly in a concert Of powers, the
League would be once more ready to
expand its horizons. The covenant is
elastic enough to cover almost any con-
tingency as it stands; it should be re-
silent enough to be able to contract so
as to remain workable despite the ad-
verse political winds which are buffet
ing it both in the Far East and South
America, its advocates contend. In brief,
they would have it pull in its horns lest
they become blunted unnecessarily.
Many far-sighted statesmen hold the
above views Eamonn de Valera, acting
president Of the last Assembly, spoke
his mind fearlessly when he said that
unless the League faces issues squarely
it cannot survive, and will not deserve
to survive. Undoubtedly, more than one
statesman will express the same opin-
ion when the fourteenth Assembly is
held in Geneva next Autumn.
Braced.
From the New York Sun.