Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-08-08
Plight of Small Nations.

THSHl OIL OIndlI l\dtlOIlS.
In the face of unrestrained agrees
sions and failure of the League of Ma
tons to carry out the ideal on which it
was founded-to assure each member
of the international community of Sc
curity against attack-the small nations
Of the world are feverishly preparing to
meet the shock of new war which may
be directed at them or may draw them
into its vortex against their will.
In Latin America, Scandinavia, and
the Baltic and Balkan areas the weaker
nations are hastily drawing together as
the lines of division between the great
powers-Great Britain, France, Ger
many, Italy. Japan and Russia-grow
deeper in preparation for the expected
showdown which may not be long de-
laved.
The return to Warsaw of Foreign Min
lister Beck of Poland from Oslo, Norway,
where he conferred after visits to Stock
holm, Sweden; Tallinn, Esthonia, and
Riga, Latvia, casts new light on the eff
forts Of the Scandinavian and Baltic
countries to arrive at a common pro-
gram for preservation OF peace as far as
they are concerned.
Foreign ministers of the seven sigma
tories of the Oslo convention-Norway,
Sweden. Denmark. Finland. Netherlands,
Belgium and Luxemburg-met last
month in the Norwegian capital to dis
cuss mutual political cooperation, par
ticularly considering the relationship OF
small nations to the League. Mr.. Beck
has held discussions with Rumanian
statesmen as we'll on the Polish proposal
for naturalization of Baltic and Balkan
states in the event of new conflagra-
ton.
In the Balkans, where the entente be-
tween Rumania, Yugoslavia. Turkey and
Greece may soon be fortified by the en-
trance of Bulgaria as a member as a
consequence of relaxation of the mill
tary restrictions upon her in the treaties
OF Neuilly and Lausanne, the objective
is to consolidate these states of Europe's
traditional finder box" against entan-
clement in the imperialistic rivalries of
the great powers,
Latin America, although not so close
to the scene of possible explosion, is
nevertheless anxiously uniting behind a
common peace system which will prove
effective not only in forestalling new
wars within itself, but in repelling pos
sible aggressions which the dynamic
povers-Germany Italy and Japan
may launch in the Western Hemisphere.
Loss of confidence in the League has
probably been greater in this hemi-
sphere than elsewhere. Already nine
Central and South American govern
ments have Withdrawn from League
membership or are in process of with
drawing, Chile and Venezuela being the
latest additions to the disillusioned. That
this movement away from Geneva is
gaining was evident from the tour of
Latin countries made by League mis-
sion in recent months in hopes Of
stemming the tide. The chief remaining
protagonist of the League in this hemi-
sphere is Argentina, her motives for pre-
serving the link with Geneva obviously
being eagerness for prestige overseas.
Colombia, although an ardent advocate
Of the League principle, was, with the
Dominican Republic, the author at the
Buenos Aires inter- American confer
ence of a plan for an American Asso-
citation of Nations which would provide
strictly American diplomatic and eco
nomic sanctions against aggressors. So
the latter does not repose implicit con-
fldence in the Leagues ability to protect
small powers.
Failure of the League is generally rec
ognized. but certainly not so the princi-
pie of cooperation for mutual security.
# universal league is unattainable the
next best hope of protection for small
states is in their own regional organiza-
lions uniting their efforts against attack
and involvement in war between the
great powers.