The New York herald., 1922-05-18
CONSIDERS GENOA
EXAMPLE TO AVOID
Earl Grey Contrasts Result
With That of Washing
ton Conference.
URGES MORE SYMPATHY
Close Understanding of Brit
ain, France and U. S. Only
Peace Basis.
URGES MORE SYMPATHY

Special Gable to THE NEw York HERALD.
Copyright, I9s2. bv TIE NEw YORK HERALD
New York Herald Bureau,
London, May IL.
The Genoa conference has taken the
wrong road to peace; close under
standing with France and the coopera-
ton of America are essential for the
aims of the conference, Earl Grey of
Fallodon, former Foreign Secretary and
one time British Ambassador to the
United States. declared In a letter TO
Sir Robert Hudson. treasurer Of the
National Liberal Federation. The let
ter caused widespread political excite
ment. Earl Grey being i'll has not ap-
peared In public for many weeks.
''1n foreign affairs the Washington
conference conducted by the Government
OF the Uaited States has been sue
cess" the letter said. Participation by
the British Government in IL was, ] be-
lieve. helpful and provided an example
to be followed by US In the future.
"The Genoa conference on the other
hand provided an example OF what
should be avoided. The reconstruction
OF Europe and general paciflcation were
its urgent and admirable objects. IT is
very unfortunate that the method
adopted has been such as was likely
from the beginning to defeat and not
promote these objects.
ITO secure the desired close UNDER
standing with France and the coopera-
ton of the United States were essential.
I cannot believe that either OF these
Powers would not have shown gen.
eral good will had they been consulted
beforehand and the outcome then would
have been some method OF procedure
that would have had the confidence and
good will of both.
"The Genoa conference was an
nounced as n dramatic surprise. 1t was
acclaimed by the supporters of the
Prime Minister as his personal object OF
which the success. If II succeeded. was
to go to his political credit; the i'm
preston thus created was that IL had
some connection. however remote, with
domestic politics and by this unfortu-
nate beginning it's chances for success
were greatly impaired. IL not destroyed
France was filled VIII: distrust. the
United States refused to participate al
all. Somehow or other the conference
met. An agreement with the Bolshe-
visits came to be regarded as a prospec-
tive test of its success. but apparently
the conference was allowed to meet
without any attempt to make sure what
the attitude OF the Bolshevist Govern
ment would really be. II was thought
sufficient TO assume that this attitude
would be what the promoters OF the con-
ference desired. The Genoa conference
thus became a sort OF political lnterna-
tional gamble and its proceedings have
been watched with growing anxiety ant
| alarm.
81 continue TO believe that close un
derstanding with France and the goot
will of the United States are the onl,
sound beginning for the foundation fol
economic and financial reconstruction
and peace in which all nations may
share But these essential condition.
have been rendered more difficult OF
less likely by the Genoa conference
At the termination OF that conference
the retracing of the steps where We
have been carried I'm the wrong direc
tion and the pursuit OF the objects which
we all desire by some happier method
seem the only course that offers an,
prospect of relief
IF sincere steady policy CT the use
announcement and development OF th'
League of Nations had been pursue,
Germany by this time would have bec'
member Of II and Europe might hav'
been on the way toward n general paci
fication instead OF. as II now seems. OF
the way to armed opposing groups. i
is true that the United States woul'
not join the covenant OF the I.eagle o
| Nations, but in Europe IL is nov tn
best and only chance for promoting
CT Ia nj m q N
of the United States says so. / shan
believe that this policy would ncr hav'
been less agreeable to them than th
policy that has actually been pursued
or that European harmony and goot
work done would secure less respect ant
| good will in the United States becaus'
effected by the League of Nations.
"At home there was before the wal
strong desire and demand for hap
pier and better conditions of life. Thii
naturally has been intensified by the
suffering of war. and now that the wal
| Is over II Is felt more than ever. TX
realize this or even make a beginning
the recovery Of the trade and the res
toration of prosperity are essential
THE first step, the first condition
needed to attain this Is economy and th'
reduction of taxation. Economy is very
popular in the abstract and very un
popular in detail. The Government il
my opinion made the Geddes Commit
| tee begin at the wrong end. The com
mittee was asked to say how much
could be saved Of the present expendi
trre. The first question should have
been How much can the country af.
ford to spend?"
THE second question should have
been: How can this amount best bs
spent in the national interests? AS re
CARDS Ireland, the Government first
demanded the support of an extrem,
policy and then one of conciliation
Their failure with the first policy
greatly impaired the prospect Of success
of the second. ireland Is the most tragic
but not the only instance of violen
oscillation policy on the part of thi'
Government.
Surely the moral OF II all Is that q
coalition government rightly formed fol
the prosecution OF the war. but formed
and united for that purpose only. be.
comes a source OF instability and danger
when II Is long continued in the time OF