Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-08
Secret Diplomacy
Helps BOLsheUiki

France is both selfish and shotsighted.
His policy endangers all Europe. 1t
endangers France. But it endangers
England also. For. needless to say,
when Germany has settled accounts
with France, as our impenitent militar-
lists openly boast today, England's turn
will come. The military camarilla in
Prussia is measuring every fissure in the
structure Of the Entente and gloating
over the fatal intrigues that are UNDER
mining it,"
This is the view of German who Is
personally connected and acquainted
with the old and new leaders of Prus-
sian militarism.
Finally. there is bolshevism.
When the British secret diplomats OF
the eighteenth century conceived Eng
lands subtle continental policy. there
was no Lenine in Moscow menacing all
Europe, including the British Isles.
with Red anarchy. England's refusal
weakened the French Government and
lessened it's prestige among the French
people at time when every government
needs all the strength and prestige 1t
can get to combat the Red menace.
French Socialists Gleeful
Nowhere, not even in Germany, has
Lloyd Georges reputation Of Premier
Millerands policy been hailed with such
| exubcrant joy as in the ranks Of the
| French Socialists and Bolshevists. Their
enthusiasm is natural enough; they
| know that every rupture In the Entente
| brings Europe a great stride nearer
chaos. and that the French democratic
republic Is doomed IL deserted by its
allies.
| But IL France founders in Bolshe-
vism, the Red flood will sweep over
the whole continent, and IL would be
miraculous indeed IL England, the home
of Robert Smilie and George Lansbury,
labor leaders, were spared its ravages.
Once again. England's fate is indis-
solubly linked with the welfare Of
France, with the unity Of the war vic
tors. British politicians who do not
realize that their traditional maxims
Of secret diplomacy, however excellent
they may have been their time, can
not be applied to the present unpre-
cedented European situation, are pur-
suing suicidal policy and involving
the rest of the world in their suicide.
1t will take a long tine to repair the
mischief wrought in Europe by the
Anglo Italian intrigue against France,
even il the results of the San Reno
conference really consolidate Allied di-
plomatic unity once more. The harm
mas been done.
Liberal Englishmen Alarmed
It is all the more deplOrable because
| 1t is the occult work of politicians, con-
Quoted without the knowledge or con
| sent of the peoples, who are incapable
Of so lightly forgetting their noble com
radeship in arms. and despite the fact
that Lloyd Georges secret diplomacy is
| regarded by the vast majority of in
telligent Englishmen with increasing
distrust and apprehension.
So far as Germany and the Russian
| Bolsheviki are concerned, Italian and
British secret diplomacy are working
| harmoniously together. The cabinets
of London and Rome are, indeed, in
the same position. Both have no longer
any foreign menace to fear. but both
face very grave menace at home. This
similarity naturally brings them to-
gether. while II tends to divide them
from the French cabinet. which is not
terrorized by Socialists and Com
munists, but nervously apprehensive of
the Prussian militarists.
! But with regard to Austria and the
| Balkans, Italian secret diplomacy has
tortuous ways of its own that are cal
culated to frustrate even genuine An
glo- Italian friendship. The British
plan in this embryonic region of Eu-
rope is to establish vast economic fed
Grafton comprising all the states for
merhk belonging to the empire of the
Hapsburgs.
There can be no question that this
plan is sound and that it is the only
way to prevent new Balkan wars and
| final economic ruin. Not more than a
month ago it was on the point of being
realized. The Austrian premier Rem
ner went to Prague and entered into
negotiations with the Czechs and the
Servians, which resulted in the con-
clusion of series of economic agree
ments forming the basis of future eco
nomic union.
Even territorial questions and the
| treatment of national minorties were
frankly discussed and solved in very
friendly spirit, both the Czechs and
the Servians showing sincere desire
of reconciliation and co operation with
the Austrians.
But this reconciliation interfered with
the plans of the modern Machiavelians
in Rome, who wish to draw the young
Austrian republic into the sphere of
Adriatic influence. So Renner was in
vited to visit the Eternal City. received
by King Victor Emmanuel and Premier
| Nitti with every mark Of esteem and
friendship and fairly overwhelmed with
offers of economic assistance. Italy,
back on war rations and in the throes
of bolshevist upheaval caused by food
shortage, began sending trainloads of
food to Vienna.
Surely, the suicidal folly and futility
| &c tho pnatbods of secret diplOmacy were