Double Affront

A showdown between Spain and Brazil, on the one hand, and the Council of the League of Nations, on the other, has impended since the Spanish and Brazilian governments instructed their representatives on the Council to veto the admission of Germany to a permanent Council seat (TIME, March 29) unless there were simultaneously accorded to Spain and Brazil permanent instead of temporary seats.

As the Council proceeded last week with its deliberations at Geneva (TIME, June 14), the Hispano-Brazilian position was crystallized by the authorities at Madrid and Rio de Janeiro into two "diplomatic affronts" to the League.

Sour Grape. The Spanish expression of pique, chagrin and defiance consisted in the recall to Madrid of Count Quinones de Leon, whose place upon the League Council was taken by one Don Luis Quer Boule, a mere youth, an underling culled from the Spanish Legation at Berne.

Having deposited this diplomatic sour grape upon the Council board. Foreign Minister Yanguas of Spain cabled to the abashed young man instructions that he read to the Council a vague and technical intimation* that Spain may eventually withdraw from the League if not granted a permanent Council seat.

Tearful Farewell. Senhor Afranio Mello Franco, the Brazilian representative, conveyed the umbrage of Rio de Janeiro by remaining "indisposed" throughout the week, thus leaving Brazil's nonpermanent seat ostentatiously vacant.

Shortly before the final adjournment of the Council was moved, Senhor Mello Franco strode in like the ghost of Banquo, dabbed his eyes with an ever damper handkerchief, handed to League Secretary-General Sir Eric Drummond a cablegram. . . . The cable conveyed in 5,000 words the resignation of Brazil from her nonpermanent Council seat. The Council, not to be stampeded, refused to accept the resignation, held that the Assembly of the League is alone empowered to do so.

Senhor Mello Franco, distraught, took emotional leave of each of his Council colleagues, quit the scene....

The effect of these developments was virtually to quash the possibility that a Spanish or Brazilian veto might again cause trouble when the League Assembly meets to induct Germany next September.

Neither Spain nor Brazil can actually quit the League without giving two years' notice. League partisans opined that even should notice be given, the next two years would provide opportunities for smoothing Latin pride, restoring the two nations to membership. Then suddenly came the news. Brazil gave formal notice of withdrawal. Harsh words followed. The Americas were turning from the League! Asia would soon turn away! For the League, was there more than a mere European future?

*Superficially a mere assertion of Spain's willingness to ratify a proposed amendment to Article IV of the League Covenant which would make the nonpermanent Council seats rotative instead of elective. This seemingly innocuous declaration went on to state that Spain's withdrawal of opposition to the amendment--which would deprive her of the nonpermanent seat to which she has been four times successively elected--resulted from the fact that Spain now has no interest in nonpermanent seats; i.e., Spain must have a permanent seat or nothing.