Evening star., 1936-03-10
Britain for Peace.

"A4A1C OH OuGA oSON uAl0 AASAAoSSA
France is moving to demand that the
League of Nations take note of Ger
many's ruthless violation of the treaty
of Versailles and the Locarno pact,
Great Britain has cast her influence on
the side of peace. Foreign Secretary
Eden warns Hitler that any attack
upon France or Belgium, following re-
militarization of the Rhineland, would
automatically bring Great Britain to
their assistance. But Britain sees no
reason to suppose that the Reichs action
implies any threat of hostilities. In
further token of dispassionate British
anxiety to contribute to the bloodlesS
solution of the crisis, Mr.. Eden discloses
British readiness to consider the
Fuehrer's proposals for new peace
covenants.
The French greet this display OF nod
Grafton with understandable disappolnt-
ment, even though the foreign secretary
leaves no doubt of Britain's resentment
of Hitlers action, or of her realization
that it "complicateS and aggravates the
international situation" Mr.. Eden goes
the length of asserting that the Rhine
land infraction profoundly shakes con-
fidence in any future engagement INTO
which Germany may enter" because,
he saws. sit strikes a severe blow at the
nrinciple of the sanctity OF treaties
which underlies the whole structure Oh
international relations"
Having thus stigmatized German un-
trustworthiness, there is an element OF
naradox in Britain's willingness to con-
slider Hitlers latest proposals-o1 20
wear non-aggression and bi-lateral de-
,nilitarization pacts, an air agreement
and re-entry into the League. 1t is the
british thesis that, late events having
obliterated zone OF the important foun-
dations of Western European peace
there is a manifest duty to rebuild II
peace is to be secured" In that utterly
realistic spirit, London proposes to lay
rancor aside, face accomplished facts'
however unpalatable, and examine
Hitler's proffer "clear-sightedly and OBJ
iectively," in order to discover to what
extent it holds out prospect OF
strengthening the shattered peace struc-
ture.
Indefensible as Germany's latest
challenge is, British determination to
exhaust every possibility Of preventing
it from leading to war is comprehensive
and commendable. The peace-cravlng
British nation can welcome IN only
slightly less degree than the French the
rushing of German land and air power
beyond the Rhine, with correspond
ingly easier access to the British Isles.
John Bull measures this increased haz-
ard against the incalculable horrors OF
another great European conflict and de-
cides that the sagacious thing is to
explore carefully and calmly what Ger
many offers in place of that which she
has destroyed. Hitler may in conse-
ouence once again emerge triumphant
and unpunished. That is not COM
Portable thing for France or the rest Of
Europe to contemplate, yet until the
Reich's re-created war machine is
actually flung against Germanys neigh
bors, there will be widespread inclination
to believe that in refusing to apply the
match to the European power barrel
Britain is pursuing the course of wisdom.
AS long as she holds aloof from COL
lective punitive measures, it is doubtful
whether Europe will deem it expedient
to visit upon Germany the chastisement
her lawlessness merits. Britain is acting
on the theory that, while civilization
abhors Hitlerisrn, it abhors war even
more.