TOPICS OF THE DAY
THE RUSSO-GERMAN TREATY
THE alarm caused by the Treaty of Rapallo has been reproduced by the news that Russia and Germany are on the point of concluding a new Treaty ; but really there seems to be less cause for alarm than ever. The_ pipe of rumour' is being blown by the usual surmises, jealousies, ' conjecturea, though much-"breath 'might be . saved, particularly in France, if people would stop to think why Russia and Germany- want a new Treaty.
In 1922, when the Powers under the direction of the Supreme Council were still trying to solve the more important of their economic conundrums, Germany and Russia, suddenly surprised the world by announcing that they had made a Treaty. Their motive Was a natural one • that might have been foreseen—the feeling that they had . a right and a need to make some counter demonstration to the discussions at Genoa. It is strange to look back, now and remember how hardly theAllies at Genoa. took the ,news. In the event. none, of the forebodings was fulfilled, no harm came of the Treaty, and. in the past, two .years most .people .have forgotten all about it. The new Treaty ought to . mean . even less mischief. Germany has gone about the business quite openly and was careful to keep Lord D'Abernon informed. .If .anybody has .a grievance about being kept in the dark it is the German - people. Although the terms of the Treaty have not yet been published, there is no doubt that they amount to a mutual guarantee of rieutrality with certain qUalificationS.
_ The question is how far Germany can pledge_ herself to remain neutral if Russia should be attacked and yet be 'free to join the League of Nations, where her respon- sibilities might 'require her, in- imaginable cireunistances, to - join with the other members of the League either in applying " sanctions " to Russia or in allowing arinies doing the work of the League to • cross German territory. ' ' Germany has declared that her prospective obligations to the League cannot possibly clash with her new. and modified obligations to RuSsia. If this be really so we have all the assurance that we' need, for if Germany becomes a willing and right:aCting member of the League there will be rio danger of her 'helping Russia to upset the peace of Europe. If German statesmen "had the minder the humour they might write an amusing corn- mentriry on the affairs of Europe.
" Approach thou like the rugged Russian heal:, The arm'd rhinocerds, or the Ryincan tiger ; Take any shape but that, and my firm nerves Shall never tremble," said Macbeth. But whatever shape German policy takes the nerves of France are apparently not firm enough. France herself makes Pacts here, there and everywhere, and calls them pacts for keeping the peace. Since the Geneva fiasco she has emphasized and extended . her agreement. with Rumania, and . she. is apparently about to- enter into an alliance with .Ytigti-Slavia. - She . has- Pacts 'besides with CzechO-SIOvakia. and Poland. Nobody, after all, says that these- things are bound to lead to war ; on the contrary;. there is a friendly, perhaps an.over-friendly, agreement to,regard all such expedients for " mutual assistance " as 'Cothing within the borders of the Covenant.
- . :Why, then,: should- a' little affair between Russia and Germany be regarded as something quite different ? The explana;tioiv is, of course, thifr neither RUSSia nor Germany is a member of the -League. - - • • - . that we come to what seems to us to be' the -only point that matters.- The new Russo-German Treaty would probably not- have been contrived at all if the policy of Locarno had prospered at Geneva; The new Treaty is a warning *that -Germany, if foreed to it, will not have to look far for an alternative to Locarno. There is only online of sense and safety—to make Germany a member of 'the League without fail in the autumn.
Previous page
