The Washington herald., 1922-11-07
Sees Bonar Law Saving Entente
And Solving Reparations Tangle
Simonds Believes Tory Rule Will Straighter
European Debt Problem.

reasons. desires that Germany be
forgiven a part Of her obligation to
prevent a total German collapse.
she can hardly insist that France.
Germany's chief creditor. should re-
sign German claims and still pay
British.
Bonar Law is. above all. hard
headed business man. He recog-
nizes that to get one must give, and
this is precisely what Lloyd George
did recognize. In seeking to restore
Anglo-French association he will
have the backing of the independe
Liberals, of Lord Grey and Mr.. As
quith. He can offer France a guar
antee without fear of political con-
sequences. because Law will come TO
power. IL at all. after having de-
feated them in the next general
election. and they are the real Brit
tsh foes of France.
Entente Tory Baby.
The Anglo-French entente was
a Tory creation. II wes the Tory
Intervention which actually decided
Britain's course In the critical day
Of the first week in August. 1914.
Bonar Laws two sons fell on
French soil during the war and this
TACT. alone, is certain to give him
standing in any French discussions.
To give France and Belgium a
British promise. specific and un-
qualified. that IL the events Of 1914
are repeated the action of Sritain
will be duplicated would change
the whole face of Anglo-French
relations Instantly.
As for the question Of the French
debt to Britain. and of course the
Italian and the Belgian stand on
The same footing. the situation is
clear-all three of these countries
IRE agreed in opposing the reduc-
tion of German reparations. while
britain, which would profit most by
such reduction. holds her recent
allies to their obligations. Lloyd
Georges course has united these
nations and Mr.. Bonar Law must
low face the consequences.
Germans Can't Fay.
Eut laying aside political cries
and campaign appeals. the cold fact
is that the debts which Germany
owes her creditors can and will
never be paid save in comparatively
insignificant amounts. And since
Germany will not pay and cannot
now be made to pay. II is utterly
idle for Britain to attempt to COL
'ect from Italy, France or Belgium.
just as it is useless for her to
maintain her claim against Ger
many.
As business proposition neither
the United States nor Britain is
going to get one red penny out Of
Continental Europe for war loans.
The sooner this fact is appreciated
the quicker we shall get down to
rock bottom. If Britain cancels
what debts are owed her both by
Germany and by her recent allies
she will not resign a dollar of good
money. nor would the United States.
for that matter. Such cancellation
by Britain would permit immediate
scaling down of German repara-
tions. This. too, would not mean
the surrender of any valuable
thing.
Lloyd George in office was a
politician first last and all the time
Mr.. Bonar Law has always been a
business man. even in politics. The
politicians in all countries have so
befuddled the popular mind and so
muddled the whole financial side
OF the war settlement that the one
hope now Is to get the matter out
Of their hands and have a general
writing Off of bad debts. As far
as France Is concerned. even Poin-
care has read the signs of the time;
he could not survive the rejection
Of any reasonable proposal made
by Bonar Law and accompanied by
a guarantee against a new Ger
nan attack.
Thus IL may easily be that the
change in the British ministry may
not alone save the Anglo-French
entente. but contribute to an ame-
Iteration IL not a speedy solution
of the whole reparations-debt
tangle.
/. Copyright. ls22.)