Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-12-03
BY D TARDIEU
Special Dispatch, TO The Tribune.
Innnr.inLt lnaa ~ Grant EailS Trifii

tttSGiAbtit. IS--I KY "A ais +tHNHN'
Paris, Dec. 2.-1'he news continues
chaotic and contradictory from Athens,
London and Lausanne. Now it is the
Near East peace program which fails to
make progress. Then co YES word that
| the Brussels financial conference ap-
parently cannot organize. Political
repercussions follow the execution of
the Greek diplomats and officers. Ii
the public was not already ablaze it
would find plenty to cause neuras-
thenia. 1t was the inevitable that hap
pened at Lausanne. From the very
beginning it was apparent that the
Turks, facing the little entente. the
great powers. and the United States
with a united front, had placed their
faith in the Russian soviet. | have
| suggested this for months while most
Of the French press and the govern
! ment, whether under BRAND or Poin-
caire, denied it obstinately. No doubt
| now can remain that a triple alliance,
uniformed and vague as to plans as yet
agreed upon exists, uniting Moscow,
| Angora and Berlin. This alliance has
ton of the situation created by the
allied victory and the peace of Yer
s%ailles. The danger toward France is
obvious but considering our official
indulgenc Of the Turk since the spring
of 1921 it will be difficult for US to
take the warning and regain our free
dom of action. That is one explana-
ton of the slow work at Lausanne,
but it is. of course. not the only one.
On the reparations question the dan
ger is not less. The French govern
ment, in reply to all questions asked
it during the last two months, has had
only one answer: Brussels" But
since the visit 10 Paris of the Belgian
representative it has become plain that
the conference on which Poincare has
said so much depended. cannot be ar
ranged under existing conditions.
There must be a prior agreement be-
tween Great Britain, France. Belgium
and Italy on the essentials of the ar
rangemPnt to be sought. But this
agreement has not been outlined.
Should the premiers get together
about Dec. s and reach a common con-
clusion the meeting can be held and the
discussion be ]reopened. But there is
nothing that would seem to indicate
that a complete entente will be easier
now than ii was in the past. Poin-
cares plan. followed until now. of dis
GUESSING debts first. although concern
ing the ltuhr the governments cannot
settle anything apparently. does not
help to simplify the situation.
Thus Frances policy of vacillation
is explainable. Understand that the
report that France already was pre-
pairing military measures against Ger
many has caused some uneasiness in
the United States, but that seems IN
| justified. Poincare has denied it and
he knows perfectly well that taking
any such measure without first con
sulting the allies would be very lily re-
ceived. even in France. in addition
by offering to go to London to dis
cuss the pending matters next week.
he has proved his willingness to take.
The truth is that Poincare is not all
ready to fire guns and invade the Ruhr
but that he is trying TO nourish his
popularity by covering the negative
ness of his achievements with ener-
getic words. The debate in the cham
Der on the governments general pol
lev will end on Dec. u. Being uncer-
tain about bis ability to suggest some
| capable policy by that date. the pre-
mier wraps himself in clouds full Of
thunderbolts. He did it before. in May
and in August. winning Il parliament
airy victory. He is trying the same
plan again.
That honestly is all that can be said
Of the present situation. Not only in
Europe seems to have ideas of will
power. although the situation cries
out for time. Again. for lack of a
better plan, I am compelled to say,
wait and see