Evening star., 1937-01-03

dominated by. the war In Ethiopia
and by the efforts of the League Of
Nations, aided by the policy inde-
pendently pursued by the United
States, to prevent its conquest by en-
forcement of economic sanctions. The
complete failure of that attempt to
achieve its purpose divided the Coun-
Gil. whose delayed and impeded ac-
tions have given shock to the League
from which it will, at best, take years
to recover
The League is magnificent instru-
ment Of conciliation where concilia-
ton Is desired and the wish exists on
both sides to avoid war, but. until not
merely armaments are reduced but
the hearts of men are changed, 1t
cannot be the guarantee of peace
which its founders tried to provide for
the world. Economic sanctions, ex-
| cept in rare cases, can only be an
! adjunct to and not a substitute for
! the employment of armed force.
Circumstances Alter Hopes.
! Those of us who still see in the
League the best instrument man has
as yet conceived for the maintenance
of peace must recognize that we live
in day of small things, when our
policy for the League must be adapted
to the means at its disposal, and that
the larger hopes with which it began
must be adjourned to the day when
nations now alienated from it are
| ready again to cooperate in making
1t effective and universal.
Meanwhile, we have paid a heavy
price for this attempt to preserve the
covenant in the new divisions which
it introduced into Europe and in the
opportunity which they offered Ger.
many to tear up one more treaty and,
in defiance of the engagement volun-
tarily undertaken and proclaimed by
Herr Hitler himself as Germany's con-
tribution to peace, to reoccupy and
refortify the Rhineland. A future his
torian may well record that it was not
the failure of the League in Ethiopia
but the remilitariZation of the Rhine
/ land which was the turning point in
the history of Europe
Happily, as I write, it would seem
that the differences and misunder-
standings between Great Britain and
Italy, to which this conflict gave rise,
are being resolved by conversations
which have been for some time in
progress, and We may hope that, be.
fore long, the old cordiality of our
relations may be restored Our in
terests are common or Complementary,
not conflicting. Between the two
countries there should be no suspicion
or bad blood. We recognize that, In
many ways. Mussolini has created .
new Italy. but we would wish our
friendship with this new Italy to be as
cordial as with the old Until it is so
once more we shall make no progress.
am convinced. toward a solution Of
Europe'S difficulties.
Foreign Policy REDEEMED.
These events have left their mark
on British policy, and amidst much we
must regret. we may find some comfort
in some of the consequences both OF the
failure of the league and the action Of
Germany. Anthony Eden, in a series
/
and claufied our foreign policy and, by
so doing, has contributed powerfully to
promote agreement among all parties
on the main lines of our foreign policy.
He has drawn closer to France: he has
reaffirmed with great precision our
treaty obligations to France and Bel
gium, and our determination to treat
| 80 al, IA @f vi fna
as an attack upon ourselves. And an
immediate and equally precise declara-
ton of the French foreign minister.
extending a similar guarantee to this
country, has proclaimed a solid union
of the two peoples in defense of the
peace and integrity of either.
There was indeed nothing new in
these declarations, which only re.
peated the agreement of last March
at the time of the reoccupation Of
the Rhineland, but its reafirmation at
this time had new significance. That
agreement, which is still open to others
to accede to, is, and will continue to
be, the best guarantee in the West.
Another contribution, not only to
our own security, but to the peace
of the world at large, has undoubtedly
resulted from the progress made with
British rearmament. Whatever may
be thought of Premier Baldwin's state
ment that the British people could
not be persuaded to take earlier steps
to put their defenses in order-and to
some of us, who have not lost their
| foi ~, vrh
courage and candor, that statement
appeared unworthy of his high posi-
tion-there can be no doubt that Brit
ish unpreparedness was one among
the causes of European unrest and
that strengthening of our defenses
contributes to the maintenance Of
peace.
Nation Behind Eden.
Debates in Parliament, while em-
phasizing and perhaps exaggerating,
as such debates will often do, minor
differences, temperament and outlook
have made this clear. There is more
united national support for Eden's
policy than has been behind the gov
ernment at any time in recent years.
Foreign nations would make a great
mistake If they failed to notice that
we have reached agreement among
ourselves on a national policy which
finds its backing in all parties and
sections of the people. In such unity
on great issues lies the secret Of our
national strength.
We are no biologists; we shall take
part in no crusade against political
systems, however different from our
own, but we shall remain true to the
friendships we have formed and seek
to soften rather than embitter the
rivalry and conflicting national ideals.
How dangerous to peace any other
policy would be is clearly shown by
the case of Spain. A civil war, which.
horrible as it is, would. in other times.
have been an affair of Spaniards only.
whatever the sympathies of other ma
tions might have been, now threaten
fo daveloy, into an ipterpo finpol ron.