New-York tribune., 1922-04-28
Winning the Peace

yard-looking faith sang canticles.
rchitcherin might scream, but in
lue time he would be quoted by the
eugar Of recognition and Germany's
;lliance with Russia could be
jynored Glorious things were to
tow from Genoa.
This week there is foreboding,
,'assimistic Lloyd George. If the
conference fails he sees another vel
er Of blood And failed it already
has with respect to the economic
matters that j. was nominally called
consider.
Lloyd George acknowledges this.
He now campaigns merely for politi-
cal objects-namely, recognition of
The Bolshevik power and a tearing
up Of the Versailles Treaty by let
ing Germany off. Poincare, to in
duce him to send delegates to Genoa,
was promised that the conference
would be restricted to its formal
agenda. The coalition Conserva-
tives received a similar pledge as a
price Of vote of confidence. But
what of all this?
SO complete is the collapse of the
advertised economic program that
even Keynes testifes to it He says
that the time is not deemed ripe to
do anything in particular-that the
onus of advising action is to be
landed on to yet another conference,
20 an assembly of representatives of
banks of currency issue soon to
gather in London.
Thus the conference on the eco
uomic side is already a confessed
failure. VIII it succeed on the po-
htical side? If it does succeed along
the lines that Mr.. George plainly
marks it will be costly success.
Europe will indeed face the like
hncod Of new war. For good rela-
tons between France and Great
Britain would automatically cease.
Germany, though her gold supply
has increased since the wars ending.
has 50 far paid France practically
nothing To support Germany in
/ further reputation and to place the
burden of rehabiltating the devas-
lated regions on the already over
burdened French taxpayer -- who
now contributes annually $35 per
capita against $40 per capita in Ger
many would naturally end French
British friendship.
Great Britain in the new align
ment would Join Germany and Rus
sia IN new sinister triple alliance
or withdraw from the Continent. In
either event Europe would again be
a powder magazine. France would
gather to her side Belgium. Poland
and the Little Entente and perhaps
Italy The old balance of power
doctrine would be back, with each
side feverishly getting ready. The
hope Of disarmament would be
eXtinguished. What the soldiers
fought for would be dickered away
by politicians.
1t is difficult to conceive that Lloyd
George seriously believes what he
says OF that he will believe it on
second thought. But even if he has
become blind it is scarcely conceiv-
able that the people of Great Britain
will follow him. Not by helping
Germany to become again an armed
camp or by backing a power in Rus
sia which has all the vices of Car
ls-n with none of It's virtues will
either peace or trade be promoted.
France, sorely beset, has not al
ways been happy in her diplomatic
methods He insistent manners
7ave et times been irritating. But
these weaknesses have nothing to do
with the substance of her case.
When denied q defensible frontier
she submitted, and likewise when a
special treaty guaranteeing protec-
tlon to her died unratitied. For her
late ally TO end the chapter by be-
coming brother or cousin Of Ger
many and Russia would leave her no
option but TO prepare herself against
time when threats will burst into
acts.
Since November, 1918, the ques-
ton has often been asked as to
whether Germany, having lost the
war, was to win the peace. An an
swer is foreshadowed by the news
from Genoa and the pleasure with
which all Germany reads the news.
German orators will doubtless soon
he saying that her heroic dead did
not die in vain--that their valor.