Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-07-18

ply of France at a low rate through
Germany's enforced payments. So in
this particular matter she has found
the Germans.
Position Taken by Lloyd George.
Disagreement breeds disagreement,
and today Lloyd George, as the result
OF the clash Of interests concerning
coal, finds himself disinclined to ap-
prove those measures of military CO.
ercion of the enemy which he framed
yesterday in consultation with the
representatives Of France, and which
the latter believe is necessary to
maintain over Germany in order that
she may be compelled to keep her
promises
That an arrangement acceptable to
France will have been agreed to be-
fore these words are published in
America I have no doubt. but these
wrangles have their tale to tell and
leave their scars. What 1 intend to
emphasize is that no alliance or even
friendship can be kept alive between
two countries in which commercial
competition is allowed to strive for
the quickest and biggest returns.
France Is not blameless in the mat
ter as it stands. Lately she has reach
ed an economic understanding with
a great metallurgic concern to CAP
ture profitable undertakings in Ger
many. and at San Reno, under the
impulse of Britain, she adopted q set.
tlement of the oil interests in Ru.
mania following such suppression of
German property rights as can only be
described as high handed.
Britain Oversteps Limits,
But with regard to German coal.
Britain overstepped every limit in her
frustrated attempt to maintain at nj,
costs her own coal monopoly, allow
ing no coal to be sold on the fnterna.
tional market except at her own ex.
portation rate.
Thus the political considerations
which, for the sake of international
security. ought to rule supreme in
all negotiations with Germany at this
time. have been absolutely overlook
ed. The French have indisputab 1e
proof that Britain's scheme concern
ing coal was a German proposal &C.
cretly made.
Because of the policy of high waga.
to labor, which he has had to enforce
at home in order to secure the rela.
tive docility of the radical element
Lloyd George perhaps finds it diff1cu1t
to follow other lines than those which
he pursues. but the unpalatable truth
is that such course inevitably must
involve destruction of the solidarity
of the western powers. Already a
disposition is noticeable on the
French side to retaliate through con-
testing the British claim that the
German feet shall be allocated to
Britain at a rate not higher than
eighty-flve dollars a ton, while the
Germans are claiming three hundred
and eighty-five dollars a ton. Such
quarrels are bound to accompany fur
Their peace negotiations conducted
recommended by Keynes in his dis
astrouS book.
Change in American Activities.
As a result of the warning given in
these dispatches last week against
the activities Of certain America MS
changes have occurred.
Among other interesting news is
the statement that Paul Cravath, aft
err a period OF receiving ten or fifteen
threatening or critical kilograms
day from America, decided abruptly
to leave Spa.
Very emphatically It is being i'm
pressed upon all here at Spa and
elsewhere at the capitals that not
only representatives of International
prof1teering. but tho very spirit of 1t.
must be dism missed from world affairs
until they have reached some flrm re-
adiustment.