New-York tribune., 1920-04-25
Allied Nations | lave No Well E.stab.
-lished Policy in Regard
to Germany

effective on either side of q con-
troversy because he has no prejudice
on one side Or the other.
Knew the British Mind
In the critical Gays wnen the AS
quith government displayed hesita-
tion, lack of determination and en-
ergy in pressing the war, Lloyd
George saw that the country de-
manded energy and he suddenly
seized the reins from the hands Of
his old chief. obtaining the approval
Of the nation for this course because
he promptly disclosed an intention to
use his power as the nation de-
manded the power should be used.
Mr.. Wilson, by contrast, could do
nothing of this sort. He took po-
sition on the several issues to come
before Paris Having taken the po-
| sition, he maintained it. He might
compromise, but even his compro-
misses came reluctantly and were
made under the pressure of neces-
sity which was inescapable. And
since the necessity Of compromis-
ing with tho Senate and with his do
nestle opponents did not seem i'm
mediate, he only compromised with
his associates in Paris. When he
returned to America he displayed an
unwillingness to compromise at all.
But what it is essential to recog-
nize is the degree to which the vital
affairs Of the world can be compli-
Gated when the authority Of the
moment is vested in two men of
such strangely different types as
Mr.. Wilson and Lloyd Georg e.
Mr.. Wilson imposed upon the
French, for example, a whole vari-
ETY. of concessions which, in the
French mind, weakened their posi-
tion gravely, but he prevailed be-
cause he offered in exchange the
treaty Of insurance, the Anglo
American guaranty, which, after
all, was the best possible form Of
security for France. Unhappily, his
inability to lead or direct American
public sentiment and political af-
fairs led to the rejection of the
treaty by the Senate.
Two Sacrifices
Lloyd &c orge, on the con-
trary, preserved his political position
at home, but he preserved it solely
by series Of departures from the
line taken in common with Gle
menceau and Wilson In Paris. In a
word, Wilson lost America for the
treaty, Lloyd George sacrificed the
treaty to save his political position
at home. Here, underneath all else,
is the real explanation Of all that
has happened in the last year, so far
as the separation Of the nations
which together conquered Germany
is concerned.
To take specific example,: Dur
ing the peace conference, M. Jean
Herbette, who writes the leading po-
lltical article in the "Temps" every
day, published a criticism Of the
course of Lloyd George in the matter
Of French occupation of the Rhine
barrier or the Saar coal basin which
contained facts not previously pub.
lie property and disclosed the truth
that Lloyd George, by one Of his
maneuvers, had separated himself
from the French and was vigorously
supporting President Wilson's posi-
ton on this vital question.
Lloyd George was furious and de-
manded that Clemenceau take steps
to act officially against Herbette and
his journal. He was the more angry
because the Northcliffe press, po.
litically hostile, seized upon this
change Of attitude toward France to
launch a campaign against the
Prime Minister. Other French writ
ers, taking up the Herbette article,
followed it. Lloyd George threatened
to take the conference away from
Paris if the French press continued
on its course.
But meantime the British public
opinion had tended Enthusiastically to
support the critics Of Lloyd George
and to demand a more vigorous
support Of France by the British
Prime Minister. Sensing this, he
suddenly changed form, and the first
thing the amazed Herbette knew he
was hidden to private and intimate
breakfast party at the Prime Min
isters residence in the Rue Nitot.
A Change of Front
At the same time Lloyd George
gave out an interview asserting that
France and Britain had never been
so closely united as at that moment,
and In the conference he shifted
from the side Of Wilson to that Of
Clemenceau.