The New York herald., 1921-05-29
gibbs DEPLORESGAP
With FRANCE that
SADDENS ENGLAND
Lloyd Georges Unfortunate
New Friends Speech
Adds to Peoples Men
tai Distress.
SPECTRE OF SILESIA
French Attitude More of
Fear for Future Than
Revenge on Germany,
Writer Believes.
. CLIQUE IN PARIS BLAMED
Regrouping of Powers and
Preparations for New Con-
flict Feared if Differences
Are Not Patched.
CLIQUE IN PARIS BLAMED
BY SIR PHILIP GIBBS.

BY SIR PHILIP GIBBS.
Special Gable to THE NEW YORK HERALD.
Copyright, 1921, bp THE NEW York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
London. May 90.
Once when ] was trudging along
road Of France in the springtime
friend said to me that the war took
the color out Of the flowers. | cannot
help thinking Of that saying now,
when the beauty Of May approaches
the glory of flaming June and the
countryside is ravishing to ones
senses because of it's tapestry of flow
ers, its sunlit woods with blue sky
above white roads that lead to pri-
vate paradises.
The beart should be glad In Eng
land or France just now; glad of
peace, glad of beauty, glad of the
youth that escaped to enjoy this sum-
meT and their mating time. But in
both countries and in others some
thing takes the color out OF the flow
ers. There Is the sense of a storm
brewing at the back Of the blue sky.
and cold shadows pass between ones
soul and the sunlight.
So 1t seems to men and women who
no longer have the carelessness Of
youth. To youth all is we'll.
Youth is not bothering much about
unemployment or loss Of trade or in
terna tional politics, and 1t is the right
of youth not to worry when the sun
is shining and boys can laugh with
girls. But for those who have to
worry and watch, feeling the pulse of
sick world, listening to its heart
beats, hoping for its return to sanity
and robust health there are no pleas
ant symptoms to record.
The difference in policy between
England and France, or rather be-
tween the British and French govern
ments, furnished a cause for painful
anxiety. In the United States it is
possible no doubt to look at the ques-
ton of Upper Silesia or the threat to
occupy, Westphalia with detached
mlnds. Even the possibility of break
inc the entente cordiale between
France and Great Britain might cause
certain intellectual excitement and re-
gret, but this would not cause tears
70 be shed in New York, Boston, Chi
cago or San Francisco. Except in
rare. cases, it would not cause per
sonal and poignant emotion.
Prcmier's Words Cause Grief.
But in London and Paris Premier
Lloyd Georges recent speech suggest
ing a choice between old friends and
new friends-a most unfortunate
nhrase--and the passion Of protest
and hostility aroused in the French
press and answered by the cold com
ments of the British press detected
many sensitive minds to the point OF
personal grief.
One French woman I was talking
with on the day Mr.. Lloyd George
uttered his challenge actually burst
into tears, although I am bound TO
say that the French people meet
show less signs Of tearfulness than
fierce, blazing anger at what they do
not hesitate to call the English be-
frayal Of France. 7, like many other
Engishmen who spent the years Of
the war In France, feel enormously
uncomfortable with mental distress
over this unfortunate difference in
policy. and IL Is essential that the peo-
pie on both sides of the Channel
should get to know the exact reasons
for the difference and that they should
try 10 find some common solution.
Otherwise there will be an actual
quarrel between our two peoples and
that regrouping OF Powers at which
Mr.. Lloyd George dared to hint.
SAD Memories Revived.
At this talk OF a quarrel between
England and France think back to
those early days when, in August,
1914. our first boys came 10 france
and were greeted all along the dusty
roads by cheering crowds who twfned
flowers about their caps and thrust
fruit into their hands and wept nj the
sight OF those tanned faces Of Brltish
youth. J thlrk Of all the years when
our armies we're billeted in French
villages behind the lines and saw and
wondered at the heroic spirit of tho
oJS men and woman Of France of tho
Young girls and children even. who
never weakened under all this agony
of war, though they saw their homes