NEWS OF THE WEEK F RANCE has, of course, a perfect
right to raise the question of Germany's conscription declaration under Article XI of the Covenant of the League of Nations. The article is strictly applicable. That it covers Germany's action is indisputable. France is perfectly logical in raising the question at Geneva. But logic alone has never solved any crisis yet. What good can result from such a step is hard to see. What harm can come of it is obvious. Will it really serve any useful purpose, for a League Council from which Germany has withdrawn, and to which everyone is urging her to return, to declare formally, what all the world knows, that her action is a formal breach of the Treaty of Versailles ? The Council will be completely disunited. The last thing those members of it repre- senting countries not involved in the War desire is to mix themselves up with the execution of the Treaty of Versailles, and the British delegate, who for all the Cordial synipathy of this country with France cannot possibly approve the reference of the conscription question to the League, will find himself in a delicate and un- congenial situation. It is to be hoped that Fra,ace on second thoughts may realize that a discussion at Geneva will after all serve no good purpose.
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