New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-25
Lloyd Georges Statement
on Polish Situation Is
Shock; Nation Divided
ON Views Toward Russia
See Business Threatened
Premier Is Target of All
Factions; u. S. Position
Is Feared in Commerce
Bv Arthur s. Draner

grown accustomed to shocks, crises and
disappointments. Bonar Law recently
said that a day which produced only
one crisis is considered holiday.
But when Premier Lloyd George told
Parliament that the Polish situation
had brought England to crisis which
meant war or peace the nation was
surprised, shocked and angered. The
possibility of another war, with its
consequent drain of man power,
finances and its disrupting influence on
the life of the nation at moment
when the people are just beginning to
ind their feet seemed remote last
Wednesday morning, but by nightfall
1t had assumed threatened proportions.
Britain is mentally unprepared, how
ever we'll prepared she may be ma
terinlly and physically.
There will be no war with the Boil
sheviki until Parliament has debated
the question exhaustively The Euro
pean nations will not plunge into an
other big conflict as they tumbled into
Armageddon. That mighty struggle
taught many lessons, not the least of
which is that it is easier to get into
trouble than it is to get out
If the British were unprepared for
the Premier's announcement. it is
equally true that Lloyd George was un-
prepared for the kaleidoscope changes
OF the last week. His closest associates
saw visions Of an early resumption of
trade with Russia and peace in eastern
Europe. AS in every country and in
every government there are two rival
parties, one for peace with Russia and
the other for war. Premier Lloyd
George is for peace.
Two Views Represented
Before the reply of the Soviet gov
eminent was published the British
press gave two widely divergent inter-
pretations, in one rejecting the views
OF the British peace with Russia
faction, the other rejecting the views
OF the fight the Bolsheviki" group.
This explains why on Tuesday morning
some London journals said the armi-
stice was about to be concluded. while
others declared the Bolsheviki had
fouted the British.
Premier Millerand characterized the
Soviet reply as "impudent." Lloyd
George called it quite incoherent.
There is possibility of war with
the Bolsheviki, but Britain will send
mighty few troops to the assistance of
roland. Her contributions will be
limited to munitions and materials
Britain already has invested close to
half billion dollars in Russia The
Premier's speech draws the fire of
various sections of political opinion
U! course he is attacked vigorously by
labor which few months ago struck
when an attempt was made to send
ammunition to Poland
Labor demands peace with the Boil
shevIki and has no sympathy for what
1t calls Polish aggression" The Lib
erals declared that the Premier has
been compelled to rewrite the whole
Treaty of Versailles and, though they
support recent notifications, they can
pointing out that Lloyd George
policy upon which he carried the gen
eral elections is now being rewritten
Conservatives Condemn Delay
The Conservatives condemn the Pre-
mier because he did not go to Poland's
assistance earlier, rather than open
Consequently, Lloyd George finds him
self in peculiarly unfortunate posi-.
ton, though there is no doubt that he
sincerely desires peace in eastern
Europe.
When the announcement was re-
ceived here that America had lifted the
Russian embargo British officials tried
to hurry negotiations with the Soviet
government. There was a fear that
American business interests would get
the advantage with Russia. The very
day the Premier was telling the people
q crisis had been reached the British
1i.1 i
stating that restrictions on the impor.
tation of Russian rubles would soor
be removed.
There is no unity among the nations
in their attitude toward Russia. Eu-
ropean political conditions are fright
fully complex and variable. At the
moment there is something approx.
mating unity between Great Britain
and France regarding the Russian sit
uation, although before the Spa con.
ference it was impossible for lloyd
George and Millerand to see eye to
eye.
Every Step Means Bargaining
Nearly every step toward unity
means deal of bargaining and com
promising on issues unrelated to the
point at issue. England agrees with
French project in Germany or Syria
France agrees to an English project in
Russia. The United States says moth
ing, and her silence worries both Great
Britain and France.
European politicians and soldiers
are living in troublesome times, and
there is bound to be a showdown be-
foNe the summer is over. The League
Of Nations, of which much is expected
is virtually impotent. For instance
after long delay it was finally ar.
ranged to open a financial congress in
Brussels this week. Invitations had
been sent out to all the delegates, the
secretariat had engaged rooms in Brus
sells, arranged for tickets and was
ready for the meeting. AT the eleventh
hour the council Of the league met in
Paris and called off the conference un.
til September to await decision Of
the Supreme Council on the question
of reparations.
The League Of Nations has wonder
full machine, but 1t lacks fuel and an
engineer. The permanent secretariat
is a marvellous organization, but it is
handling police court news instead of
international conflicts. The league
must wait for America, and meanwhile
the European nations must settle their
problems in the old way.
Albanian Rebels Beaten