Evening star., 1935-06-23

sorbed in their own domestic
u affairs, both economic and po-
litical, that they have given but scant
attention to the fact that there is
now taking form in England a de-
liberate and, in a sense, q des-
perate effort to persuade the United
States to abandon its policy Of isola-
tion. Put very simply, the British
find themselves in the most difficult
situation in their postwar history
and the single means of escape from
involvement in a new European war,
which they see making, is American
consent to join England in some
form Of collective association, not to
guarantee world peace, but to insure
that Great Britain-and the United
States-will be able to keep out of
future European conflicts and to set
limits to Japanese imperialistic op-
erations in Asia.
Not since 1917 has American aid
been so essential to British safety
as at the present hour. What the
British see with utmost clarity is that
the entire intricate and elaborate
scheme of pacts and regional agree
ments and the Danubian and EasterR
LocarnoS are not worth the paper
they are written on. They recognize
clearly that they are committed to
France because geographically France
must either be an outer barrier against
any attack upon the British Isles or
the jumping-of place for such an
attack. Now, as in the days of Louis
XIV, British security depends upon
keeping the prospective foe out of the
Low Countries. But today France
has become one of the Low Countries
and Germany is the prospective foe.
Can't Control French Policy.
Although the British are thus bound
to the French, they cannot control
French policy, because they are not
strong enough to assure French Sc
curity. To do that they would have
to 60 back to conscription and main
tain an army at least equal to that
OF France. AS a consequence the
French are compelled to make further
alliances with the Little Entente, with
the Soviet Union and with Italy Each
Of these alliances, however, involves
France in disputes and French in
volvement may easily lead to British
ENHANCEMENT, with the result that
fresh episode far of in Eastern or
Central Europe may have for the
British the same consequences as the
assassination of Sara ieVo.
The German withdrawal from
Geneva and the subsequent repudia-
tion of the armament sections of the
treaty of Versailles have shocked
Britain, herself, into the adoption of
q vast program of rearmament. In
the British mind this German per-
formance could have been avoided if
France had been willing to make con-
cessions to the Germans. But France
was unwilling because such conces-
sionS were bound to leave her weaker.
The Italian adventure in Ethiopia is
another blow to Britain because it
aSsails the whole moral basis of the
League of Nations, already shaken by
the Japanese operations in Manchuria.
Japan, Germany and Italy have re-
nounced the principles of the League
and the first two have quit Geneva.
Italian withdrawal may not be de-
layed long either now that Eden has
forced the issue in the League. For
o time italian fear of Germany seemed
likely to compel Mussolini to heed the
advice of London. A four-power COM
bination of France, Italy, the Soviet
Union and Great Britain was formed
and did act at the last meeting of the
Council at Geneva. But the Ethiopian
affair has compromised that combina-
ton and, already, Italy and Germany
are making gestures of reconciliation.
New Combination Seen.
II Italy should again change sides,
as is far from unlikely, then a new
combination Of Germany, Italy, Aus
tria, Poland and Hungary would
shortly emerge. All of these nations
would, of course, renounce League au-
thority, and France, Great Britain
and the Soviet Union, with the doubt
full aid Of crumbling Little Entente,
would be far too weak to stand out
against this new coalition. France in
no long time would therefore be COM
PEELED to abandon her Little Entente
allies and only Great Britain, France
and Belgium would remain of the
old combination.
Under such circumstances 1t is easy
to see how dangerous the British posi-
ton would be. Against Germany and
Italy, France, Belgium and Britain
Union could not help as it might be
subjected to a Japanese attack. Once
France and Belgium were overrun,
moreover, British security would be
at an end. That Is the future which
the British have now to face and
the single real promise of escape
from dangers, which are real If not
immediate, is discoverable in an
Anglo-American combination.
That combination, the British hope,
could be established through the
League. If the United States con-
sented to come to Geneva, then, in
addition to France, Belgium and
k5T1tAlI1, 0Wcacus NOIWdyy OCuIudIAs
the Netherlands, Switzerland, Spain
and Portugal would certainly rally to
the League. The British and Amer
lean fleets would close the seas to the
Germans and the Italians If they at
tempted to take the offensive in
the west Of Europe. Nor would these
fleets be less effective in setting limits
to Japanese imperialism in Asia.
Italy Would Become VassaI.
Undoubtedly Germany would estab-
lish hegemony in the Danubian area.
Austria would be absorbed, Czechoslo-
vakia divided between German and
Hungarian masters, the Balkan states
would become economically and po-
Iitically associated with the Germans
at least temporarily. Italy would
sink to the level of vassal state,
Unless she presently threw on her
German yoke. But these things the
British see are likely to happen any
way. They could be prevented only II
Italy could be relied upon, and Italy
cannot be relied upon save at price