Evening star., 1934-04-08

future outlook that no government
wishes TO commit itself or muddy the
murky waters by ill-advised comment.
French Firm.
Jockeyed into tight corner. the
French are loath to burn their bridges
behind them, yet they will not give
an inch. Hitler. for one. seems to
be moving cautiously. determine to
maintain the diplomatic advantages
he has gained. Having been at Ge-
cided disadvantage since the armistice
because of their disarmed condition,
the Germans feel that uutil they
again have at their command "the
last and best argument tor a diplomat
military power to back up their
own, or resist the demands of
others"-they must not come back
to Geneva.
On the Eastern horizon. Russia
continues enigmatical. 1t is true that
Moscow, of late. has been decidedly
friendly toward the League. The
days when Maxim Litvinoff played
the role of the bull in the Leagues
china shop obviously are past Mos
COW now sees the League, a disarma-
ment treaty and the Briand-Kellogg
pact as her greatest external guar
antees against militant Japan ANY
proposals the Russians may make at
Geneva the coming week will be in
tended to advance rather than retard
the cause Of world peace.
Failure and Panic?
Stanley Baldwin, who exercises
more influence in Great Britain than
does Ramsay Macdonald. and who
perhaps more truly represents the
country, commenting upon the pos
sibility of a failure at Geneva. said:
1T would make this difference.
might in the event of failure Of
agreement become panic in some
countries. Each country may ask
itself if it is safe and reply in the
negative. I see that problem 0raw-
ing nearer and nearer until it grips
us by the throat. If rearmament
begins in Europe you may say good
by to tax reductions, etc, for a gen.
Grafton. With some nations the
expenditure that would be involved
in increasing armaments would bring
them much nearer to financial catas-
trophe. 1t may even bankrupt some.
Psychologically the world would be
back to 1914. Another war in Europe
would be the end Of the civilization
we know"
Benito Mussolini. Europe's arch
realist and militarist, speaking before
the Fascist grand council, declared:
If 1884 does not bring agreement
on ornaments, the world will revert
to the old system of political balances
of power. 1t is sufficient to look at
the situation in the Pacific, where
three powers are girding for conflict,
which otherwise will be difficult to
avoid. Reform of the League cove
nant (Which the Fascists clamored
for a short time back) can wait. 1t
is now of secondary Importance. If
the Disarmament Conference fails,
all that will be left to do will be to
register the death of the League of
Nations"
Europe Drifting.
Mussolini might have added-and
truthfully-that such an eventuality
would please the Fascists very ruch.
At best, the situation facing Geneva
looks hopeless. Advance Information
on the American attitude is that It
will be one of complete Indifference.
The interventions OF Coolidge, Hoover
and Roosevelt all have been Of no
avail so far as disarmament Is con-
cerned. Besides, Americas eyes have
turned toward the Far East ard 1t
will not be until 1886 that the raval
ornaments question will become
acute.
AS for Europe-it hasn't the fog
giest idea where 1t is drifting, but 1t
is on its way.