Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-11-22
The Leagues Rocky Road.

There is no doubt that this is the
Winter of the League of Nations dis
content Efforts to end the Geneva
Disarmament Conference deadlock hav-
ing utterly failed. adjournment has been
taken until January, In the hope that
during the intervening two months de-
vices not now in sight may be discov-
cred for bringing Germany back into the
fold Of the discussions, II not into the
formal framework Of league member
ship.
Meantime, there are vague intimations
that some capital other than Geneva,
to which the Germans for the moment
have an aversion, may be the scene Of
independent efforts among interested
powers to form the basis Of some dis
armament agreement. Up till now these
attempts have been confined to France,
Great Britain, Italy and the United
States. The American representatives
are said to be urging that Russia and
OF more menacing import for the
future Of the League of Nations than
its inglorious disarmament record is the
threatened desertion Of Italy. following
close upon the detection Of Germany.
Premier Mussolini, through the medium
of inspired attacks in Fascist-controlled
newspapers, has Just branded the
League . monumental fuunty. with
strong hints that it has outlived its
usefulness, as far as Italy Is concerned.
An active anti-League campaign Is now
In progress throughout the country. and
when the Grand Council Of Fascism
meets on December S it is to examine"
not only the relations Of the Italian
government with the League but also
1.-The eficaciousness Of that organization
itself, following the withdrawal Of
Japan and Germany and in view of the
non participation Of the United States
and Russia" The council will have In
mind the recent speech before the Ma
tional Council of Corporations, In which
Il Duce pilloried the League as an "ab-
surdity."
To what extent the astute and am
bilious dictator may be playing politics
for the purpose of enhancing Italy's
prestige as dominating factor in
Europe remains to be seen. He is known
to be anxious to wrest disarmament
negotiations from Geneva's bungling
hands and turn them over to the ma
lions comprisings the European four
power pact, including Germany, OF
which Mussolini was the chief architect.
This weeks presence in Rome OF M.
Avenol, the Leagues French secretary
general, Is undoubtedly associated with
these various maneuvers, which include
an alleged plan to "reorganize" the
League, disentangling its covenant from
the treaty Of Versailles and revising
it in the hope that it will then commend
itself to the United States and Soviet
Russia, as we'll as appease German and
Italian demands. The revision project
is said to contemplate deletion Of the
famous Articles x and XVI, providing
for sanctions" against member states
which commit acts of war. Whether the
scheme is intended to go the length of
stripping from the Versailles treaty the
celebrated war guilt" and other provi-
sions, including military clauses, which
are particularly obnoxious to Germany,
has not yet been disclosed.
The general purpose Is said to be to
bring about such revision as will bury
war hatreds" and restore relations
among all the nations to the pre-waf
status. 1t would require good deal Of
optimism, in the present state Of inter-
national dislocation East and West, po-
litical and economic, to believe that
these life-saving efforts on the Leagues
part have any early prospect of success.
The likelihood that the United States
would consent to be drawn into them
can be dismissed as extremely remote.
Uncle Sam has troubles nearer home
just now, from which there Is little
chance of his being distracted.