Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-11-15

TdAI dr0 lie pIO0PcctS Oh
M peace ind war in EuroF,e
Wv in these closing weeks Of
1896? Let Us attempt to
draw the balance sheet.
The cardinal fact to place on record
Is the distinct weakening Of the So
called system Of collective security.
In Geneva the session Of the Assembly
which took place in September Octo-
Der brought deep disbursement to
every one concerned. Among the ma
tional delegations there was no longer
any pretense of behaving as though
the League Of Nations could again be
made a living force. The issue Of the
limitation Of ornaments, quietly drop
ped two years ago, was ofiicially re-
vived-but in q most unimpressive and
ineffective manner.
The sudden disappearance Of the
gold bloc gave rise to the idea that q
conference Of the greatest economic
powers could be summoned for the
purpose Of investigating how the
channels Of international trade could
best be reopened. However, it soon
dawned upon the promoters OF the
movement that President Roosevelt's
adherence to the scheme could not be
obtained in the midst of the electoral
campaign and. moreover, that the
most logical course was to wait for the
end Of the negotiations between the
Locarnian powers which, II successful,
would eliminate. or at any rate re-
lieve, the international tension.
But the most adverse factor was to
be found in the extraordinary lack of
trust and confidence shown by most
delegates toward the Franco British
leadership. In that leadership rests
whatever chance remains Of achieving
something on the collective principle.
The rout suffered by the League when
at grips with the Abyssinian problem
has utterly discredited the London and
Paris cabinets with other member
states. Everywhere one finds the con-
viction that it would be futile to repair
the Geneva machinery so long is the
two great governments Of Western
Europe have failed to prove they are
ready to assume full responsibility
by deeds as we'll as by words-for the
maintenance of international law.
Holland Action Exemplary.
Nobody had foreseen that the As
sembly would revolt against Messrs.
Delbos and Eden, rather than accept
their suggestion that the Abyssinian
delegation should be turned out, with
out further delay, from the interna-
tional institution. 1t is significant
that Holland should have headed the
movements country which feels that
it is most exposed to the danger Of
a German invasion. The preparations
made by the general staff at The Hague
to flood the land in an emergency bear
witness to its fear. Holland therefore
Is more interested than any other ma
ton in strengthening its old connec-
ton with England.
In the same respect, consider the
attitude of Belgiuml A creation of
the first Anglo-French entente cordiale
a century ago she now evinces the
greatest reluctance to cast her lot
with her two historical protectors and
associates in the new Locarnian
treaty. She dreams-though it can
not be more than dream-of policy
of neutrality which would place her
above the battles of the future And
the Belgium foreign minister who in
dulges in such empty visions, who
would withdraw from active co-opera-
ton with the two great democratic
states, is Socialist!
Lacking Anglo French leadership.
the League has turned into a confused,
uncertain group of nations. But as
Stunning that the policy Of collective
security could be revived by France
and England--what about its posi-
bilities of being translated into victory
on the battlefield?
We know that, last March, when
Adolf Hitler freed himself from the
Rhineland pact of Locarno and or
dered the Reichswehr into the de-
militarized zone, the German general
staff had come to the conclusion that
resistance would be inadvisable If the
French Army took the offensive. 1t
was agreed between the Fuehrer and
his generals that, in such case, the
Reichswehr would withdraw. In other
words, Hitler gambled upon the tinid-
ity and webbing mood Of the French
cabinet-and won.
French Arms Believed Superior.
Today, despite all the steps that
have been taken by Germany to
strengthen its army, most experts
French and foreign) believe that the
preponderance Of military power has
not yet ceased to rest with France.
Most competent observers anticipate
that the German military machine
will not reach its maximum Of ef-
ficiency before the Summer or Autumn
Of 1887.
Meanwhile, it is true, the Rhineland
will have been heavily fortified. This
will lessen to q material extent the