Suppose Poland or Great Britain had set the same machinery in motion a week ago; suppose the French, and British Governments had led the Council in similarly swift and impartial action, can it be believed that the Lithuanians would have refused to end their ancient grudge? Can it be believed that the combined pressure of the Council would have been less powerful than that of Marshal Smygly-Rydz brigades? Can it be doubted that Poland, above all. would have stood to gain? Today, Poland has gravely compromised her good reputation throughout the world. From now on her weaker neighbours must inevitably regard her with suspicion. Whatever else she has obtained, she has not advanced towards her real objective of confident and friendly cooperation with a neighbour State. "Lithuania Feels Humiliated: Smetona (the President) May Go," reports the Evening Standard in headlines on Monday last. A precedent has been created which some day ray be used against the Poles themselves by either of the mighty nations between whom they live.
And Britain's interests? Another breach has been made in the "rule of successful coup may retard the of the democratic pro-League tations forces in a country where to constitutional Parlia-
Government seemed very We may be relieved that there is neither war nor annexation in Lithuania today. But let us recog-nse that Poland's ultimatum has been a step, not to peace, but away from the only system by which real peace will be obtained.—The "Specta-for."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.