The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-19
GARDINER SEES ALL EUROPE
DEEPL Y SET AGAINST WARS;
OLD FGANG' is SWEPT A WA Y
Constantines Return Due to "Kept Us Out of War
Policy-Monarchists and Republicans Care Little
as to Kings, but Insist on Peace at Any Price

return of Constantine would have SO
aroused the passions OF England and
France that they would have sent
their armies and their navies flying
toward Greece. To-day nobody cares
a twopence whether Constantine is on
a throne or in a lodging house.
The French. pursuing a desperate
policy, have sought to use the return
Of Constantine as ground for making
terms with the Turks in order to con-
tinue the devastating struggle with
Russia. France does not object to Con-
stantine because he is a King. Repub-
lican France is scheming to set up a
King in Hungary, just as she is con-
senting to the maintenance of a great
army In Hungary in order to overawe
the disarned Germans of Austria.
What France objects to in the action
of Greece is that the latter viii not
continue to make war.
But the desperate condition of affairs
in Europe is knocking the bottom
out of this ruinous policy. While ii
was only enemy people who suffered.
France could go ahead. But the pinch
has come at home and has brought
a lesson with it. Neither the French
nor the English people would to-day
tolerate an idea of any new wars any
where in the interest of statecraft.
In England we are in the midst of a
cold flt Of the most intense depres-
sion. The first serious attack on
squandermani Government has been
beaten off in the House of Commons,
which is largely filed with war prof.
iteers. But the temper of the country
grows more bitter from day to day
The collapse of the price of shares
goes on without pause, in short time
increasing rapidly. and I am told that
in Coventry, for example, this Christ
mas time every machine shop will
shut down for a fortnight.
Traders who are loaded up with
stocks find that the bankrupt Cont
nent next door offers no market for
their commodities. They are compelled
to throw them on some market at any
price in order to realize ready money
to keep their business going from
week to week They can get no ac-
commodations from the banks, for
their credit has been Communicated
by what the press calls a Government
OF wastrels.
Money which is wanted to fertilize
trade has been poured out like water
in Russia and in Mesopotamia and Il
now being poured out most inglorious-
~ in all Ireland. Not only is there a
credit famine; still worse, the exac-
tons of taxation are intolerable, while
it seems that money to borrow has be-
come impossible, now that credit is un-
obtainable.
Under these circumstances. with all
their concommitants--hig prices, un-
employment and alarm as to the flu
ture-the temper of the country has
undergone a profound change. It Is
fioundering about for a vehicle OF eX-
preston and a means of action. IT
is sick of war. II is sick of Mr..
Churchll's adventures and Mr.. Lloyd
Georges legerdemain. 1t wants peace
with Russia. 1t wants peace with Ire
land. II wants an end of the tragedy
into which the peace of Versailles has
engufed Europe-victor no less than
the vanquished.
What has happened in Greece will
happen here. There will be a clean
cut with the war gang" When i
comes here and in France--and not
until then--Europe may begin to stag
ger to her feet again.