Evening star., 1921-04-24

the countries would have been haZ-
arded.
Allies Will Stand Together.
In any contingency the European
allies will stand together in the en-
forcement of the treaty of Versailles
and as the reparations commission in
demnity figures are part and par
Gel OF the general scheme of maxi
ing Germany pay for wrongs of the
past. it is hardly likely that Amer
lean influence would be furthered in
the slightest degree by any movement
to lessen the French demands. which
In official Washington. sympathetic
as it is to France. can hardly recon-
c1le the reparations figures with Ger
many's ability to pay.
Furthermore, with President Hard
ing standing without the league OF
nations all European governments
have it within their power to stack
the cards against him. Even might he
condescend to intercede in the Ger
man reparations question, there is no
assurance that European nations
would forsake the league or abandon
the tenets of the supreme council
merely at the behest of this govern
ment. particularly in view of the fact
that America has expressed her desire
to steer clear of alliances in anywise
dealing with strictly European ques-
tions.
Mediation at this time or in the fu-
ture would be resented unless foreign
governments had particular fish to
fry or desired this government to pull
their chestnuts out of the fire for the
fantastic advantage to America Of
momentary leadership.
What "MeddlinE" Means.
AS long as the United States con-
tinues it's policy of aloofnesS what
Europeans term "meddling' hardly
will be countenanced. as was evil
denced only during the past week:
when the press of France had several
sharp things to say against American
mediation.
Until the United States has more
than it's ear to the international key
hole and intimately knows the steps
European statesmen are taking one
by one, formulating policies and
framing rules to govern European re-
adjustment processes. President Hard
ings course is the only one that sa1e.
ly can be followed This is the opin-
ion expressed by more than one au-
thority in Washington.
Even the tremendous desire OF sew
eral European nations to diplomat-
cally build up prestige in this coun-
try for the sake of possible future al
liances cannot stand against the tre-
rnendous voice of European national
will when that will demands the per-
petuation of strictly nationalistic
policies. When the United States
takes a hand in any settlement with
out first knowing on which path its
feet are placed it endangers its fu-
ture, economically, commercially and
financially.
Premiers Meet Today.
Premier Lloyd George and Premier
BRAND meet today at Wythe, Eng
land to discuss the proposed French
penalties to be levied May l in case
demands by that time. The French
premier intends to place before the
British premier the plans for the oc.
cupation of the Ruhr and control OF
the Westphalian regions. It Is known
that Lloyd George now is ready to
give Germany another chance to
make renewed reparations proposals,
and decisions of the premters may In
some measure be altered by the pro-
posals of DR.. Simons before the reichs-
tag Monday. 1t is more to be pre-
sumed. however. that these proposals
already are known to the allied pre-
miers. particularly Lloyd George, who,
if they are considered adequate foun-
dation for further negotiations. may
ask the French to defer further in
cursions into Germany.
On the other hand. for political ex-
pediency, the British premier may o. K.
the French plans in the fullest measure.
inasmuch as the French will be forced
to bear the brunt Of further occupa-
tion, a thing that has not been de-
sired by the British on account OF
the terrible expense involved. The
domestic situation in England at the
moment, with the miners strike pre-
vailing and the whole industrial sit
uation upset, is not one conducive to
large British participation in further
German occupations. But the French
are bent upon going ahead with an
nounced plans, and inasmuch as
Brands political future is at stake.
II is hardly. probable the hand Of France
will be stayed May / even should the
these would not be considered by the
allies before May 1. and with no as
surance that any proposals Foreign
Minister Simons may make will final
ly be approved, it is hardly probable
the French will defer military action.
With French occupation. with possi-
BILE German resistance. with the whole
question Of reparations in almost as
nebulous a state as when the subject
promising as much trouble as it ever
did, not only for the nations most
concerned, but the world at large.
President Harding has done well. in
the opinion Of close students OF world
events. in answering Germany as he
has He has not closed the door to
negotiations, but il the German coun-
ter proposals are sufficiently sincere.
there is no reason to believe that the
allies themselves will not give ear,
even though France embark on fur
ther adventure May l.