The New York herald., 1921-05-15
FATE OF EUROPE IS
NOW IN PREMIERS'
HANDS, SAYS GIBBS
Battle of Ideals Between
Lloyd George and BRAND,
Already On, Viewed as
History Making.
ENGLAND GETS JEALOUS
Fears French Bid for AutOc-
racy on Continent Men
aces British Power.
and Trade.
SPECTRE OF NEW WARS
Harding Policy, With Counsel
and Judicial Help, Looked
Upon as Stabilizer
in Crisis.
SPECTRE OF NEW WARS
BY SIR PHILIP GIBBS.

Special Gable to THE NEW YORK HERAp.
Copyright, 1921, bD THE New YoaK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
London, May IL.
Beneath the surface of political
events in Europe, as recorded in the
daily press, great deal Of secret
history is being made which will be
tully revealed only in future memoirs
and indlscretions. The most inter-
esting drama in the world to-day Is
the conflict of ideas between England
and France, due to vital differences
In policy and tradition and conducted
with great skill, courtesy and dip
lomacy by the statesmen of both
countries.
1t was summed up in the intel
,ectual duel between the Prime Minis
tiers, Mr. Lloyd George and M. BRAND,
at the recent London conference on
German reparations. These two men,
curiously alike in temperament and
history and each representing the
national aspirations Of his people
in this time of ii world crisis, are
not so much leaders and pioneers Of
the new world which is being made
out Of the ruins of war as men who
carry on, despite themselves, the old
ideas which have been at work In
Europe for centuries Of history in
that long struggle for balance OF
power In Europe.
France now under BRAND sees her
self supreme on the Continent and
once again Napoleonic traditions have
Lloyd George is uneasy as always in
history in the case OF any power
claiming that supremacy. That is to
say. the people of the old tradition,
aristocratic and conservative in
thought. are stirred by impulses Of
ambition or resentment, though in
both countries many people are look
ing ahead to quite new ideals Of
international relationship, and more
so in England than in France.
Once Urged New Ideals Vow Old.
II Is IN extraordinary thing that
both Lloyd George and BRAND were
once leaders of new ideals and are
now champions of the old national
traditions. Brands life story runs
along the same lines as that of the
British Premier. The son Of humble
parents Of Nantes, in Brittany, he
became a lawyer in Paris, but could
get no briefs until he volunteered to
defend wretched peasant who had
murdered a policeman.
There Is no defence" said the
peasant when BRAND spoke to him
IN his prison cell but the young law.
yer made such a speech for the de
fence. exalting the peasant type and
denouncing the police as agents of
tyranny, that France rocked with
excitement day by day as the trial
continued.
Briand went back to Paris with a
Jew francs and some old shirts and
was embraced by Jean Jaures, leader
of The Socialists. who gave him n seat
In the Office Of Humanife, the organ
OF revolutionary labor. Here BRAND
became famous for his journalistic
attacks on the Government and after
ward as an orator Of advanced social.
ism or syndicalism. lie was the FIRST
70 forge the weapon OF the general
strike. but It was used first against
himself when for the sake of power
he abandoned the ranks OF revolt and
took Office under the Government.
Lloyd Georges similar History.
met him in Paris when his old
associates called general strike to
drag him down. remember him
now MS I faced him In the gllded
room Of the Ministry across the table
wDere Napoleon once sat. / remem.
her the humorous, cynical look In his
big, black eyes and the way In which
he spoke of this menace to life and
order in France. As all the world
knows, he killed the strike by calling
the men 10 the colors under the
penalty Of death.
How strangely like the history OF
Lloyd George He was also q law.
Continued or Eighth Pdcc