NEWS OF THE WEEK
THE immediate issue between Mr. Chamberlain and Mr. Eden is discussed at length on a later page. There will be other opportunities of discussing the larger and more enduring issue, which involves this country's relation to the totalitarian States and to the League of Nations. About Mr. Eden's attitude on those points there has never been any doubt. He has been an unswerving supporter of the League of Nations, and he has taken the view that there is more risk in perpetually yielding to the dictatorships than in taking a firm stand. He can claim Nyon as vindica- tion of his thesis. The Prime Minister's statement on the League of Nations on Tuesday evening merits close study. From one point of view it was disastrous. It may be true that the small States cannot count on the League's effective protection, but when the head of the most powerful State in the League proclaims that in as many words on the floor of the House of Commons it sounds singularly like a plain invitation to dictators to carry Berchtesgaden methods to any length they please. But it would not be true to suggest that the Prime Minister tore the Covenant up. On the contrary, he would not even excise Article XVI from it. His belief is that it can still act as a moral force, and that the day may yet come when it will develop capacity to com- mand material force for the suppression of war. With that thesis there can be no serious quarrel.
