Evening star., 1934-06-24
CONCERT OF EUROPE LIES
BEHIND TALKS In VENICE
Mussolini Presses Pre-League Plan
Upon Hitler-Success Means
Death Blow to Geneva.

idealistic programs and come down
to the solid level of realistic politics
The five great powers would bargain
among themselves and they would be
entirely concerned with their own ex-
clusively selfish interests.
In such conclave Germany would
doubtless receive permission to in
crease her arrnan1erits materially. but
she would just az certainly have to
renounce present prospects for union
with Austria. Some effort would
doubtless be made to fortify French
security. but on the other hand the
whole French system of alliances
would probably be dissolved, in effect
If not in terms. France would thus
lose the commanding situation she
has occupied In Europe since 1919
and Italy and Germany would profit
thereby.
But such a concert would not work
for distant aims, but to compromise
immediate dangers. To establish 1t
would be excessively dificult, however,
because France and Russia would
probably ask for the admission of the
little entente-that is, Of single
representative of this alliance-while
Germany and Italy would both be
bound to oppose such a move. which
would deadlock the council, even if
Britain, Italy and Germany stood
together.
For the British the proposal would
have two obvious defects 1t would kill
the League, which still has a certain
following in England. and it would
involve the British deeply in CONT
mental affairs. And for the British
the League has been an admirable
instrument of policy, as well as an
expression of idealism, because it has
enabled them to exercise influence on
the Continent without assuming re-
sponsibility. Never in British history
has the desire to keep out of the
European mess been more controlling.
Whether Mussolini and Hitler could
long keep the peace between each
other since both would obviously seek
to exercise the authority Of a Euro
pean leader, may be doubted. Never
theless, Hitler's situation is desperate
Germany is isolated and becoming in
creasingly conscious of the conse-
quences of such isolation. Thus. II
he could only enlist Britain and
France, Mussolini might for a moment
play the role which Bismarck played
during and after the Congress of Ber-
lin which revived an earlier concert
of Europe.
What is, too, of immense present
interest Is the fact that Europe as a
whole is visibly getting away from
the League idea and all that 1t stands
for. The Disarmament Conference has
proved the last straw and the attempt
to settle European affairs by q world
wide conclave has led to disaster and
to dangers which can hardly be ex-
agserated. In the long run, If Mus
solini does not now have his way
and cannot persuade the other great
powers to join his concert, he is
bound to follow German example and
leave Geneva. That would be a final
blow.
Prestige Needed.
If the concert comes, Mussolini Ger
tainly will maneuver to keep Germany
out Of Austria and to get France out
OF Central Europe. He will strive to
bring about the dissolution of the
little entente and the creation of q
new Danubian combination including
Hungary and Austria, now moanentarily
under his direction. But the great
stake for the Duce must be the gain
In prestige for himself and for Italy
that would follow from establishment
Of a concert.
The idea of a permanent alliance
between Italy and Germany is, how
ever, more shadowy. The two coun-
tries have certain interests In COM
mon, but for An alliance to last it
would involve German renunciat ton of
all purpose to absorb Austria. 1t is
almost inconceivable that the Austrian
Hitler would agree to such a bargain.
which would destroy the dominating
dream of his life.
In any event, a new page In Euro
pean history is opening, or, more ex-
actly, Europe has turned back to the
next page but one. thus disposing of
the leaf on which Woodrow Wilson
wrote his great program for self-de-
termination and a League of Nations
to replace the old balance of power
and concert Of Europe
(Copyrisht. l934)