LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
[Correspondents are requested to keep their letters as brief as is reasonably possible. The most suitable length is that of one of our " News of the Week " paragraphs. Signed letters are given a preference over those bearing a pseudonym, and the latter must be accompanied by the name and address of the author, which will be treated as confidential.—Ed. THE SPECTATOR.]
THE COVENANT AND THE TREATY
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.]
Sia,—One of the most urgent international problems with which we are faced is how to reverse Hitler's decision not to re- enter the League upon any .conditions. Two years ago, at the time of the remilitarisation of the Rhineland, Germany expressed her willingness to return to Geneva upon various conditions, one of which was the separation of the Covenant from the Peace Treaties. • If such action were now to be taken it would not of itself produce anything but a psychological effect. Moreover, it would have to be made clear that it was considered as a preliminary to a new all-round settlement. Yet it would certainly demonstrate to Germany the desire of League Members to meet her wishes. Thereby it would be an important step in the direction of building up a universal League.
During the last two years no fewer than seven Governments— the British, Canadian, Australign, Haitian, Austrian, Iraq and New Zealand—have officially advocated this separation. In addition resolutions in favour of such action have been adopted by the Imperial Conference (June, 1937), the League of Nations Union (June 18th, 1937) and the International Federation of League of Nations Societies (July 28th, 1937). It was also advocated by General Smuts in his last Christmas broadcast.
In October, 1936, the League Committee of 28 was set up to study questions of reform of the Covenant. On Septem- ber nth, 1937, this Committee decided to form a special sub- Committee of to Jurists " to examine the possibilities of separating the Covenant from the Peace Treaties as a prelimin- ary to further reforms." This Committee of Jurists submitted a report on September 3oth to the Committee of 28. The latter decided to invite the comments of League members, pending the receipt of which the Committee of to was adjourned.
The League Council meets on January 17th, and this question is not included in its agenda. This means that the discussion of the Committee of so's report will be postponed at least until next September when the Assembly meets. Even then it is not certain that it will be discussed.
In view of the considerable body of official opinion known to be in favour of the separation of the Covenant from the Peace Treaties and of the undoubted value of such a move as an olive branch to Germany, it seems to me disastrous that so much procrastination is taking place. Moreover, the Com- mittee of so has only considered the legal aspect of the problem —the wider and far more important political factors affecting the question have at no time been fully discussed. It is just this sort of dilatoriness which contributes so materially to popular disapproval of League methods. Facto non verba !-
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