New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-04-23
The Wars Recrudescence

The Wars Kecrudescence
In his cable to The Tribune from
Nice concerning recent events in
San Reno Ralph Courtney reports
that the disagreement between Lloyd
George and Milerand, with Nitti
supporting the former, came to a
crisis on Sunday night.
The British Prime Minister, it is
said, suddenly made the startling
proposal that the Germans should be
invited to San Reno, with the Ger
man Chancellor given a seat at the
council table. The astonished French
Premier naturally would not consent
to meet on terms of friendly init
macy a representative of a German
government which is openly defying
the disarmament clauses of a treaty
whose ink is hardly dry. So the con-
ference broke up unceremoniously.
Lloyd George is said to have ac-
cused Millerand Of trying to initiate
Napoleon. The meaning Of this taunt
is not clear. If reference was made
to the fact that Prussia, after Jena,
agreed to disarmament, and then
broke her word, it is obvious that
Millerand seeks to avoid fatal mis-
take Napoleon committed. Napoleon
permitted the creation of a new
Prussian army, and this new army
was soon on the march to Paris and
did the greater part of the work in
1914 when France was crushed.
The recent international policy Of
Lloyd George has not been easy to
understand. When the controversy
first arose over the advance into the
German neutral zone as counter to
the German breach of it's neutrality
London said the Berlin government
was merely seeking to reestablish
order. But basis for this excuse no
longer exists. Germany openly adj
mits her army is twice the size per-
mitted by the treaty and impudently
asks her late enemies what they are
going to do about it, And Lloyd
George and Nitti, if their attitude is
not misrepresented, reply they have
not in mind the doing of anything
beyond bullyragging France into a
like do-nothing policy.
Twenty centuries of periodic inva-
sion from the north supports Mile
rand in his insistence on preserv-
ing the integrity Of the Versailles
treaty. France must herself keep a
watch on the fords and bridges Of
the Rhine-especially now that she
discovers her late allies are not dis
posed to pledge protection to her in
the interest of general peace and
justice.
The exigencies Of British domestic
politics are severe strain on Brit
ish statesman. 1t may be Lloyd
George is now practically forced to
make Fundamental change in Brit
ish policy. IF so, the danger Of gen.
eral war at no distant day is grave
1t requires no great stretch Of the
imagination to see another Battle OF
the Marine, with the new one result
. ing differently from its predecessors
Germany. as visibly imperialistic un-
der republican regime as when the
Kaiser ruled, is plainly planning for
an offensive and defensive alliance
with Russia. Monarchical Hungary
and Austria will surely Join the
union if it promises to succeed. What
the result will be If Great Britain.
Italy and this country do not sup
port isolated France can easily be
foreseen
Lloyd George and Nitti seemingly
have contracted the disease whose
first victim was President Wilson,
a disease whose symptom is blind
ness to the only seeming practical
way Of preserving world peace. Elk
cept Germany Is confronted by an
alliance obviously possessing pre-
ponderating power she will devote
herself TO getting ready for another
assault. As long as she is in her
present mood she is dangerous un-
less ovcrawed, and a firm union Of
the four great democratic nations is
the only foundation for peace.