Evening star., 1939-11-24

icle has published an article by
Its chairman, Sir Walter Layton,
eminent British economist, giving
In detail his suggestions for
fuller statement of allied aims.
This is a resume OF his article.
By SIR WALTER LAYTON.
LONDON (NANAD There are
two ways in which the nations OF
Europe could attain absolute security
against military aggression. One
would be complete disarmament. The
other would be the organization OF
an overwhelming force at the COM
mand of supernatural authority.
Unhappily, we cannot expect to
be in a position to demand either
of these ideal solutions as a condi-
ton of ending the war.
One of the difficulties of complete
disarmament is that it must en-
brace the whole world. The alter
native plan of placing all arma-
ments in the hands of world po-
lice force under international con-
troll presents even greater difficult
ties. 1t would be idle to suppose
that Nazi, Communist and demo-
cratic countries alike will be ready
for so complete an act of faith. Nor
would this country, with its imperial
responsibilities.
How to Begin.
suggest that we must begin, not
by pinning all our hopes on gen.
eral panacea, but by tackling the
danger spots of Europe.
Under conditions of modern mill
tary practice, no small nation can
rely on its own resources to protect
it against a great power. Hence,
until a worldwide system of law
and order has come into being and
Is functioning effectively, the alter
native for small nations is conquest
or concentration into federal groups
whose populations and resources will
be comparable to those of the great
powers. Such groupings would bring
about a new and stable balance OF
forces in Europe.
The Scandinavian countries are al
ready we'll on the way toward fed
Grafton and could easily become a
federal unit for military and diplo-
matte purposes.
Must Stabilize Central Europe.
The crux of the matter, however,
lies elsewhere The vital task in
any peace settlement is to regular
ize the situation in Central Europe
the quarter from which the storm
arose both in 1914 and in 1899.
One of the worst errors of the past
20 years has been that, whereas the
peace treaties broke up the Austro-
Hungarian Empire into number of
small nations, nothing was done then
or since to make it possible for that
part of Europe to enjoy the economic
progress which is its due or to make
it safe against external aggression.
The treaty-makers put all their
money on making Germany too weak
to be danger and omitted to make
the new nations of Europe strong
enough to stand alone if Germany
should revive.
There is little doubt that the coun-
tries of Central Europe are ripe
for scheme of common defense
and-when certain specific issues
are settled-for common diplomatic
action within general European
organization. Further, they should
by now have learned the lesson
that economic nationalism is
weakness, not a strength.
But it is important also that
they should recognize the Importance
of establishing common citizen
ship within the group. That citizen
ship should insure certain funda-
mental rights, such as freedom of
speech, the right not to be impris-
oned without trial and freedom to
move ABOUT and trade within the
federation. The guarantee of such
rights would go a long way toward
remedying the grievances of minori-
ties and removing racial distrust.
Is 1t Possible?
Is such a step possible, and can
any external influence be used to
promote it?
Since the great war there have
been times when progress in the di-
rection of federation could have
been made if some statesman of
world reputation and impartiality
had been at the disposal of the sue
cessor states to play the part of
'honest broker" help them to over
come their individual interests and
draft constitution. Good Offices
of this kind can certainly be made
available after the war-or, indeed,
before its end.
The great powers have available,
however, much stronger lever than
simple persuasion.
The re-establishment of an inde-
pendent Poland and an independent
Czecho-Slovakia would give the op-
portunity to make fresh start. The
powers whose intervention will lead
to the reconstruction of these states
are entitled to require them to fed
crate.
But it is desirable that the group
should also include both the other
states of the Little Entente, as well
as Hungary. Here, too, there are
very strong inducements. These,
like all small nations, whether fed
Grated or not, will need the guar
antee of a European comfy of ma
tions. 1t should only be given on
condition that they join the federal
group.
A second inducement would be
financial considerations. Central
Europe will certainly require finan-
cial help when the war is ended.
The organization of such military
force as it is considered appropriate
that the federation should possess
need not be expensive to organize,
but it is vital that these forces
should be re-equipped with modern
armaments of uniform pattern
and that the federation should as
far as possible be self-supporting
In munitions.
Financial help will also be needed
for economic reconstruction.
Finally, it should be condition