Evening star., 1935-06-23

status quo, but Russia Is Isolated ana
vulnerable alike in the east and the
west. Poland has gone over to Ger
many, Hungary is ready to go. Czecho-
siovakia is exposed and defenseless,
once Hungary and Germany come to
terms. Yugoslavia has no deep con-
cern in preventing German absorp-
tion of Austria.
The League was originally designed
to serve as the international medium
of national democracieS. but democ-
racy has ceased to exist beyond the
Rhine ana the Alps and south of the
Baltic, except to a limited extent in
CzechoSlovakia. The 6ictators who
rule In the east and center of Europe
are little concerned with League prin-
ciples and utterly hostile to demo-
cratic doctrines. They have all adopt
ed the idea Of force and are engaged
IN the multiplication of ornaments.
AS the instrument Of a democratic
world, the League has suffered pari
passu with democracy.
u. s. Would Bring Balance.
If the United States now consents
to come 10 Geneva something Of
balance would be restored. If it de-
clines, then the question is whether
Britain, France and Belgium can
stand up against the storm. OF course
a whole variety of things may happen
to defect this storm. Hitler may coll
lapse in Germany, Mussolini come to
grief in Italy. All sorts of jealousies
may crop up between Warsaw and
Berlin. between Budapest and Rome.
Nevertheless it is not safe to count
upon such developments and the poll
icy of wisdom dictates preparations.
That is, I think, one Of the con-
siderations which has underlain Brit
ish policy at the League in recent
days. On the surface the quarrel
with Italy over Ethiopia is not merely
astonishing but catastrophe. 1t has
caused a break in the ranks of the
powers so recently lined up against
Germany at StreSa and Geneva. 1t
has led to a renewal OF relations be-
tween Berlin and Rome, which have
become interesting If not yet intimate.
IL 11do OCL1b oClICO O11 W xt1OOCOW
in the hope of securing Soviet guar
antee for the crumbling fortunes of
his country. And this has moved
Poland nearer to Germany.
The Italians believe British policy
is dictated by concern for the i'm
perial interests in Egypt and rival
ambitions In Ethiopia. French OBJ
servers are inclined to identify in this
maneuver-which they deplore be.
cause of its continental repercus-
sions-an attempt to help Tory for
tunes in the forthcoming general elec-
ton. For the French Eden's per-
formance at Geneva was an effort to
restore the support of the English
champions Of the League lost by
SimonS course in the Manchurian
affair.
Security Depends on United States.
Doubtless these things count, but
/ confess that to me the whole British
course seems inexphcable, unless it be
taken in connection with the speeches
Ba1dwin and Eden have addressed to
the United States recently. British
strategy seems to me to be inspired
by the conviction that the United
States cannot be brought into the
European situation except through the
League and British security in the
long run depends upon American CO.
operation in the European situation.
But if Italy Is able to defy the
basic principles Of Geneva and get
away with it, American interest in
the League Is bound to lessen. If the
United States does not come, then the
British are faced with the same sort
Of danger they confronted In the
Napoleonic period-they will have to
make alliances, accept commitments,
involve themselves in continental af-
fairs as deeply as they did In the
days Of Castlereagh.
The deeper the British become in
volved in continental affairs. too. the
more anxious and critical the do
minions must become. And, con-
comitantly, the more significant for
them will be the fact Of American
isolation. If the United States and
Great Britain stand together, how
ever, then the participation of the
dominions Is automatically assured.
But when Stanley Baldwin proclaims
that such Anglo-American co-opera-
tion could preserve peace he is at
least exaggerating. What he means
is that peace could probably be as
sured in all the regions which con-
Germ the two English-speaking coun-
tries, and that Is perhaps true.
But that raises the question Of
whether there is an equal degree of
peril for each If they pursue separate
courses. And that, 1t seems to me,
Is where the whole British thesis
breaks down. As far as one can see
today, it is evident that the people
OF the United States are all but unani-
mously convinced that they can stay
out OF a European war If they avoid
the mistakes Of 1s14-17. More and
more IN recent years the discussion
on this side of the Atlantic has shifted
from debate over how to prevent war
to consideration of ways and means
by which to keep out of war.
Recrudescence Of Talk.
On the surface there has been q
recrudescence of talk about the col
lective system-which means the
League-as q way to insure peace.
But recent events in Europe have
convinced the majority. Of Americans
and the great mass Of those who are
politically influential that nothing
the United States can do can pre-
vent war in Europe and nothing need
involve America in that war. I can
remember personally during the
peace conference when my British
friends used to tell me over and over
again, America must stay now she
has come, because Otherwise the re-
suits will be too terrible to think Of"
Some of us tried to warn both the
British and the French that America
was unlikely to stay, whatever the
results of its retirement, but our
warnings fell on deaf ears and only
directed suspicion at ourselves. At
Paris British policy was based upon
the assumption that the United