Evening star., 1936-05-14
The Crumbling League.

With one OF his character1St1caIy dra-
matte strokes, MuSsolini has ordered his
delegation to quit the League Council
and return to Rome. While that does
not of itself denote Italy's secession
from the international body with which
she has been in violent conflict, the i'm
preston prevails, both at the League and
in the Fascist capital, that II Duce has
turned his back on Geneva once for all.
Thus Italy is by way of following the
defiant examples set by Japan and Ger
many. The result is seriously to aug
ment the crumbling process to which
the League is progressively succumbing
in consequence of its demonstrated fulfill
ity in the field of collective action.
Whether the institution will survive
this latest threat to its existence is open
to grave doubt. Coincident with the
detection of another leading power. the
organization rocks with rebellious resent
ment upon the part of smaller states
which are now disillusioned respecting
its capacity to protect its members from
aggression. In their extremities to pre-
vent the League from disintegration and
strengthen its usefulness. certain powers
are talking of reforming" the covenant.
But in light of Italy's triumphant trucu-
lence, it is only die-hard optimists who
think the organization can be preserved
on lines promising more genuine effec-
tiveness than it has revealed in the past.
For the time being the League will
show its battered teeth by maintaining
sanctions. To permit a review of con-
ditions created by conquest OF Ethiopia,
the Council has postponed further con-
sideration of the situation until June Is.
If it then determines to prolong punitive
measures, many indications suggest that
such action will precipitate definite Ital-
ian withdrawal. Mussolini may not con-
fine himself to boycott Of the League.
There are omipous hints that he will
| resort to "reprisals" in the form Of a
long mooted alliance with Hitler, whereby
Germany would accomplish union with
Austria, and a new alignment of Euro
pean powers, headed by the Rome and
Berlin dictators, would come into being
with far-reaching consequences not only
throughout the continent, but possibly
in the African colonial sphere, where
| Nazi ambitions have been whetted by
Italy's acquisition of Ethiopia.
The breathing spell ordained at Geneva
will be utilized by all concerned for the
purpose of weighing carefully the next
steps to be taken. There is far more at
stake than preservation of the League.
The peace of Europe will depend on de-
cisions that must be made. Great Brit
aims attitude, which will largely influence
the course OF events may be revealed in
Parliament this week. The Baldwin
governments supporters are sorely split
on the advisability of continuing sane
tions. Fears are rife that such pro-
gram might goad Italy into a war of
which the British would have to bear the
brunt French policy will not be deter
mined until the new Socialist govern
ment takes Office on June /.
As things are shaping, Europe has to
deal with an accomplished fact unalter-
able except by force. From such q re-
course all powers. large and small, shrink.
They may conclude there is no alterna-
tive but reluctantly and shamefacedly
to recognize the fruits of Fascist lawleSs-
ness and renew the quest for some form
of collective effort to prevent aggression.