The Security Issue
But security is as vital for France as equality is for Germany, and it remains not less difficult to achieve. But there are signs of dawning possibilities. The idea of a world-wide pact for consultation in the face of crisis, fortified by a more closely-knit European pact of mutual assistance, is making headway. The fact that M. Litvinoff is in favour of the former is important, and though America, with a new administration on the eve of taking office, is non-committal, Mr. Stimson has come near proposing something of the kind himself
as a natural outcome of the Kellogg Pact. The European Pact will be possible without British participation, but the attitude of Germany and Italy towards it is doubtful. Altogether, while there is certainly small ground for , optimism, the situation is less desperate than it seemed four or five weeks ago. The British appeal for tangible results has been well received, and a final effort is being exerted with some sincerity by all concerned. But the Manchurian affair is of course an almost insuperable obstacle. I/Vhat faith can there be in collective guarantees of security in face of China's demonstrated insecurity, and what disarmament can there be if Japan declines to disarm ? Those questions are hard to answer, but it would at the worst be possible to conclude a disarma- ment agreement and hold all or part of it in suspense till Japan is ready to fall into line. That would mean the exercise of immense moral pressure on her, and such pressure, combined with other factors, some- times tells in the end.
