Germany's admission to the League, through the Treaty of Locarno, great risks were taken by winding the Control Commission whose labours—persistently obstructed over a period of seven years—were [brought to naught, although, as has now been revealed, on Germany's Jown admission, the pledge to disarm was not honoured. Germany's eloction to the League was held to bbe worth the risk for it was hoped that by the opportunity of develop~ jing her relations with fellow-members at Geneva her co-opera tion in the peaceful organization of European polity would ensue, to the great advantage of the world and to the eventual creation of firm friend~ ship between her and her neigh~ ours, She subsequently withdrew amid general regret.
Assuming—as it still is possible to sssume—that a way will be found out of the present impasse, the nations assembled in London have the right to ask Germany consider carefully the strict asssein~ tion between pledges and per-their consequences, Herr Hitler's fateful decision could not have been taken without regard to the obliga~ Hons which it proposed to repudiate, It must, therefore, have been based on a realization that the application the terms of the Covenant would come under review. Alrendy the Council of the League has unanimously found that a treaty breach has occurred, The accuracy of that finding can hardly be challenged, even if there be reluctance to prove the imposition of disciplin= ary action, So far as can be jurlged, Herr Hitler has taken those risks deliberately under the conviction thi elreumstances—differing per~ haps with each individual country wilt operate to avert the exercise of the League's authority: In that state of mind, therefore, he is not happily situated to demand reliance on proposiils for the further record of pious aspirations on a diplomatic Instrument. Germany, through Herr Hitler, seems to assume the role of judge, jury and plaintiff in her own person. The defendant is put out of court, That constitutes but a flimsy basis for future negotiations, The Issue is not the mere movement of troops into the Rhineland. The issue is whether an undertaking, volunt~ arily given and freely accepted, Is to be varied without reference to the parties concerned and whether, if that code of international ethics be adopted, there is practical value in framing' fresh undertakings, lable fas they must be to such fortuitous JdiscomAture, During the coming week that Issue will engage the earnest attention of world statesmanship.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.