Evening star., 1936-03-14
Up to the League.

Once again the League of Nations is
confronted with task designed to test
its efficacy as peace-preserving agency.
On no other occasion in GeneVa'S tor
tuous history has there been presented
quite so critical problem as the situa-
ton provoked by Germany's remili-
tarization of the Rhineland, in defiance
of the treaty of Versailles and the Lo-
carno pact. The four other Locarno
signatories-GreatB Britain, France, Bel
gium and Italy-having decided that the
Reich's action constitutes "a clear vio-
1ation" of both treaties, have asked the
League Council, to which France and
Belgium had already referred the mat
ter, to pronounce" on the subject. The
Council is assembled in London today
for that purpose. The expectation is
that the League will be requested to con-
slider economic and financial sanctions
against Germany and possibly to rec
ommend withdrawal of diplomatic rep
resentatives from Berlin if evacuation"
of the Rhineland is refused. There is
no likelihood that military penalties will
be sought, at least for the present.
1t would require high degree OF op-
timism, in light of the Leagues record
of futility in the Japanese-M
affair and the Italo-Ethiopian war, to
believe that it will come effectually to
grips with Germanys challenge. Unity
on sanctions is almost a hopeless pros
pect. The Rhineland crisis arises at the
very moment that Italy is pressing for
abolition of the sanctions imposed upon
her and MuSsolini is exploiting the eXi-
gencies of France to bring it about. Nor
is there much probability that sane
tions alone would impel the Germans to
abandon "reoccupation" of the Rhine
land. Rather than renounce its soVer-
eign rights there the Reich thunders
that it would prefer honorable isola-
ton" to inequality" The Fuehrers
electioneering speech at Karlsruhe ut
tered the same truculent note. Ger
manys attitude presages a deadlock
which, on the face of things, could only
be broken by force.
Before matters approached this des-
perate stage Great Britain made final
effort to persuade the Nazis to compro-
mise, pending definite adjudication.
Foreign Secretary Eden proposed that
Germany, as evidence of the sincerity
of her desire for a settlement, should
Withdraw all but "symbolical" portion
of her forces from the Rhineland, not
increase their number and agree not
to fortify the territory during negotia-
ton of new pacts and "regularizing Of
the international situation" Hitler, de-
clining to discuss any lasting or pro-
Visional limitation of German sover-
eighty" promised not to increase the
present "peace-time" strength Of its
garrison, or move troops closer to France
and Belgium, but he gave no pledge not
to fortify the zone. Berlin's incomplete
assurances do not satisfy the French,
who, bulwarked by strong military alli-
ances, stubbornly decline to talk with
Germany until all the Rhineland troops
are withdrawn.
There matters stand as the League
Council tackles the thorny issue. OBJ
viously somebody must give way if a
catastrophe is to be averted. No coun-
try involved, including Germany, de-
spite avowed inflexibility of purpose and
protestations Of military readiness for
any emergency, really wants war. All
concerned contemplate a conflict with
terror and horror. In that certainty is
the strongest hope that peace will be
preserved. For the moment, RESPONSE
bility rests squarely on the shoulders Of
the League. Pending its fateful de-
cisions, cool heads and calm nerves are
urgently called for everywhere.