The Washington herald., 1921-11-29
EUROPE LOSES
HOPE IN PARLEY,
SIMONDS SAYS
Nations See Success Only
In Triumph of Own
Petty Causes.
BY FRANK II. SIMONDS.

Three or four days of violent dis
cussion of the suggestion emerging
from the White House on Friday
that the present conference might
be widened and continued. have
served to permit the arrival at GER
tain reasonable estimates as to the
purpose of the proposal itself and
the circumstances IN which II was
made. Above all, IL is now possi-
bic to indicate that there has been
an absurd exaggeratiOn Of what was
in reality an expression of hope
rather than a declaration OF policy
or the disclosure of matured
plan.
1t is not true that there exists
clear plan for the creation of an
association of nations, What is true
is that the President and the Secre-
tsry of State. seeing the progress
that has been made here, have con-
sidered the possibility that when
the conference adjourned. IL the
present success continued. there
would be some natural reason for
some resolution or action looking to
some similar sessions here or else
where at a later date.
Idea Now transformed
The White House suggestion itself
did not come as the consequence of
carefully prearraneed plan, but
developed itself IN casual CONVEX
sation, and was the expression of
hope. not the revelation of policy.
The fashion in which Europe
leaped upon the White House sug-
gestion must invite reflection. What
we had was the expression of the
Presidents hope that success in
Washington might lead to an On
tension of the habit of international
lconfersnce. What Europe. as usual.
made of this was something quite
different
When Mr.. Wilson went to Europe
he had only a vague conception Of
league of nations, but when he
returned he had a whole system.
mainly contributed by Europeans.
Now the European reaction to the
recent White House suggestion
shows that Europe has again the
hope to transform another Ameri-
can conception. wholly vague like
Mr.. wilson's. into another precise
enlistment of the United States in
Europe.
All Seek u. =. Help.
II Lloyd George comes over. Il
will be with the hope Of enlistinG
the United States in the campaign 10
! bring order in Europe by applying
British and not French ideas to
Germany. II the aEenda of the
present conference is expanded, we
shall instantly have all the fighting
now going on between London,
Paris. Berlin and Rome transferred
to an American field.
Each European country desires TO
have the United States back its
plans against the rival aspirations
of its neighbors. In this IL is sin
cere. 1t honestly believes that its
way is the only right way. But IL
we bank any country against any
other, we shall be faced either with
an Immediate clash with the ma
tions which feel themselves ag-
grieved. or a demand for a guaran-
tee such as Mr.. Wilson gave 10
France IN return for French accept
snce of the American and British
view as to the Rhine.
Deemed Failure In London.
From the London point OF view,
as disclosed in British newspaper
comments in recent days, the Wash
ington conference is a failure 10
date. II has not resulted in an
American effort TO bling about a
reduction of French armies in ac-
cordance with British conceptions.
II has not opened the way TO an
Anglo American japanese sssoci-
alton to replace the Anglo-Japanese
alliance. From the French point of
view IL has been a profound dissp-
pointment. IL has not led TO the
revival of the Anglo-American guar
antee Of France against German at
tack. Italy. too. is obviously dis