The New York herald., 1921-07-03
Asserts Lloyd George Is
Attacked by Enemies
Both Within and
Without Camp.
CAMOUFLAGE rs AT END
Worlds Statesmen at Last
Face Realities and Try to
Solve Problems on Com
mon Sense Basis.
BY SIR PHILIP GIBBS.

BY SIR PHILIP GIBBS.
Special Gable to THE NEW YoaK HERALD.
Copyright, 1921. By THE New York HERALD
New York Herald Bureau.
London. July 2.
1t Is not often in political history
that an observer may record one day
or one week as being turning time
in the worlds affairs, but that is GER
tainly true of the seven days just
passed. 1t is not that definite acts
have been accomplished or that new
\ laws have been decreed for the guild
ance of humanity, but what has hap
pened is no less important. 1t is the
awakening Of the rulers of the world
to the presence of the powers and
perils which will make mockery of
their little craftsmanship and lead
to widespread ruin or revolt unless
a new spirit of wisdom gets to work.
In my weekly articles of recent
dates l have pointed out the neces-
sity of putting passion to one side
and of getting down to the realities
of life in a scientific spirit. Also l
have shown that there can be no pos
sible hope Of European recovery. or
indeed Of civilized progress, unless
there is a rev era Of international
peace and economic understanding.
These are not discoveries Of mine;
they are the commonplace thoughts
Of millions Of men and women In all
countries. but hitherto they have
been largely ignored by political
leaders still playing the old game Of
diplomatic dominoes, still defying
the laws Of arithmetic and still ar
ranging for new and inevitable wars.
Now Facing Realities.
SO have been engaged England.
France, Germany, Russia, the Near
East and other countries which I need
not name. Now quite suddenly, for
reasons which seem mysterious, but
which are really simple enough
namely. the irresistible pressure of
the mass of public opinion and the
risk of disaster beyond remedy-the
worlds statesmen are condescending
10 face realities and to get together
for a reasonable discussion to settle
the outstanding problems on lines of
compromise and of common sense.
. For the first time since the war
French statesmen are talking to Ger
! man statesmen in order to arrange
system of reparation payments which
. need not ruin both countries. Russia
is beginning to show signs of re-
turning sanity and is abandoning
theories which almost destroyed her
civilization. The United States has
given the lead to the world by gen.
I, rous advances in the interest of
7 sace and cooperation. Above all
,rhaps. in Importance to world
ICY. the British Government, In
ference with the imperial repre-.
,tatives, has been faced with the
solute need of putting it's own
use in order and Of adopting a
rit OF reconciliation. economy.
zee and common sense In all its
llings with its own people and
tn foreign Powers.
Cropping Toward Light.
Il I am not optimistic enough TO be.
leve that all these hopes will be full.
4 He'd, or that wisdom is going to OBJ.
, cain an immediate and complete vic.
tory over folly--for folly Is firmly
entrenched and is very strong in It's
defences--but I do see In certain
movements now afoot deAnite sign
that we are getting out OF the upper
darkness toward light. must con.
centrate rather in this despatch on
what is happening in my own coun.
try, and II Is very interesting.
Our long period Of apathy, with the
facts bearing down upon our fate. has
stopped. and there is a strong tide
}, running through all channels of Eng
Nsh life and thought Our economic
. ,osition Is really so serious that II can
longer be concealed under political
mounaxe or lodged ny the fancy
.hmetic Of optimistic statesmen.
world policy also is challenged by
nse natural forces. due to eco
tic laws, following the war. In
land itself there is a breaking up
u political parties and n breaking
n Of all political crceds. II Is the
ming of the absolute conclusion of
social system and the preparation
,r new leadership and new methods
che Coalition Government is doomed
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