The Washington herald., 1922-01-22
POINCARE FOE OF WORLDS
NEW IDEALS, SAYS GIBBS
But Premier Will Not Be as Militaristic as
When He Was Journalist.

ways he saw eye 20 eye with Lloyd
George in the policy OF cancellation
with Germany TO the extent Of
sbating reparations which may
drive her 90 ruin and despair, and a
vow Of future vengeance.
STABBED Him o. Back
In many ways his strange. brood
ing. gloomy. sadly timorous soul
supported the spirit of the Wash
ington conference. Given a free
hand he would have made France .
leader In the federation OF peace.
But he held his ONCE at the dag
gers point At any moment he
knew he could be struck down by
political opponents led by PoIncare.
who suffered him TO hold once only
because his personal record as q
democratic liberal secured for the
policy which they imposed upon him
as the price Of once the allegiance
OF the liberal elements in France.
IL was they who made him put for
ward the submarine claim as the
Joker" IN the cards they played.
And it was they who stabbed him
in the back when he went beyond
their instructions by agreeing with
Lloyd George 10 a reduction in Ger
man reparstions and to an economic
agreement with Russia.
British 0ners 20 France.
Great Britain has made certain
offers to France. or rather. Lloyd
George has made those offers in
behalf OF Great Britain. The OBJ
ject OF them is not mysterious. II
is to assure France first Of all Of
England's abiding sympathy and
friendship. In spite OF all the Bit
terness Of French comment. and to
relieve France OF great apprehcn-
sions so that she will be inclined TO
work for the recovery OF Europe
and for the rehabilitation Of armed
force. That is a good object. and
IL IL could be achieved would make
many difficult problems easy Of So
luton.
In the first place, Great Britain
has made a straight and definite
offer to France 10 waive all British
claims upon German reparatfon
payments for 1922 as a start and to
give France priority in all such
payments from Germany. There H.
not a man in England who is not
glad 10 back such an offer. for
friendship sake with France. as
well as for self-interest. For Eng
land does not want German money
at the cost OF a further slump in the
value OF the mark. enabling Ger
many TO undersell US in all the mar
kets Of the world.
Great Risk Taken.
But another and greater offer has
been made by Great Britain 20
France, and Il IS one which many
British people will regard with
frank doubt. deeply anxious wheth-
er il is not taking too great a
risk. IL is the offer OF a pledge
that in the event OF an unprovoked
attack upon France by Germany
the youth of Britain will stand
shoulder to shoulder with the
French army as once before
That is a great pledge from q
people who have left quite re-
Gently the flower Of their youth
in the fields OF France and 70 whom
another such sacrifice would be
the end OF all things.
The fault is in that word ~un-
provoked" There was never =
war in which the defending side
did not believe that the challenge
against il was unprovoked- And
to be quite rank British folk are
not quite sure that the policy OF
France in the recent past has been
OF a tendency TO smooth the way
OF future peace with Germany.
We do not want Lloyd George or
any other man to pledge the life
OF the younger generation to
/ France. under Poincare or any
other statesman who might call for
military aid TO a new war which
might be provoked from the
! French side Of the lines though
called provoked" That is plain
speaking. In this dread prospect
/ OF the future one must think and
| spear and write plainly.
One thing is necessary in a most
3 vital way II this new Anglo
I French compact is to go forward.
In return for that British pledge
| France must give formal Euarsn-
| tees that her world policy viii be
directed by a spirit OF concilistiou
and loyalty TO the spirit OF peace
{ and economic recovery in Europe
Continued on Poge Three.