Evening star., 1934-01-07
BY SIR ESME HOWARD.

BY SIR ESME HOWARD.
TT is useless to disguise any longer
the fact that the general condition
of Europe is perhaps even more
i unsettled than just before the great
war
The danger spot may shift. but there
are. in addition to Far-Eastern con-
flicts, plenty of causes of trouble in
Central Europe to cause grave uneasi-
ness. without mentioning Balkan uncer-
taintieS and occasional disturbances in
Latin America, while overall hangs the
ever-menacing thunder cloud Of Soviet
to get definite or trustworthy informa-
ton.
Neither the adjourned Economic Con-
ference, now more like corpse than a
living body just taking rest, nor the
Disarmament Conference, which has
acquired the habit of adjourning, Is
likely ever to accomplish much for the
recovery of the world.
OF the two conferences, the most un-
happy failure that of the Disarmament
Conference, for it is not only a mis-
fortune in itself but sign Of uni
versal disease which has attacked the
world. and which. if not radically cured
within short time, may become in
durable.
This disease is lack of confidence in
the maintenance of peace by peaceful
and legal settlement of all international
disputes.
ClemenceauS Promise Recalled.
Those interested in international af-
fairs remember that M Clemenceau, on
behalf Of the allied and associated pow
ers. assured the German delegation at
the Peace Conference that the reduc-
ton of German ornaments was only
the first step toward general reduc-
ton and limitation in which the vic
tors would also participate.
Most Englishmen thought it would
be easy for the allies to give effect to
this assurance by reducing their own
armaments. for once the great military
power of Germany had been reduced
to a reasonable level, why should not
her neighborS be willing to reduce theirs
correspondingly? Yet efforts have now
been made for 13 years to give effect
to that promise and so far these efforts
have led to no convention for reduc-
ton Of armamentS.
1t is difficult, in the light of the pres
ent situation of Europe, and Of the
world. to criticize persistence in favor
of universal pressure on a nation which
covenant of the League and the Kel-
logg pact never to resort to force except
in self-defenSe. 1t is more than diff
cult to criticize 1t in the case of France,
invaded three times in little more than
a hundred years. I believe that this
persistence by France in opposition to
any genuine scheme of reduction OF
ornaments, unless accompanied by a
general international agreement for Sc
curity by application of sanctions
against an aggreSsor, may prove in the
end a real benefit to the world.
Unity Against Aggressor.
I look upon the adoption of some
plan for collective action against an
aggressor as the only real key to re-
duction of armaments and genuine eco
ncmic recovery, because by such a
measure alone, it seems, can we re-
establish a sense. of security through
out the world a true feeling of con-
f1dence that our whole economic life
will not again be completely upset by
another world war.
All must agree that another war like
the last must result in an even more
complete economic collapse, and in
revolutions and famines throughout the
world like those which have taken
place in Russia and other countries.
1t seems. therefore, the duty of all to
spare no effort and lose no time In per-
suading their governments to help bring
about an international convention for
implementing the covenant of the
League of Nations or the Kellogg
pact. by accepting for all signatories
the obligation to take collective action
against an aggreSsor nation.
There is one perfectly simple rule
which would, so far as possible, define
an aggreSsor or a v1olator OF the
Kellogg pact with very little chance OF
miscarriage Of justice.
This would be that any nation should