Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-08-21
By A. @. GARDINER,
Special Dispatch to The Tribune
Copyrjght. 1922. By The Great Falls Trtbunl

Copyright. 1922. BY The Great Falls Tribune.
London, Aug. 2O.-Where is Europe
drifting? With the breaking up Of the
London conference and the conflicting
policies of France and England de-
clared, the entente has become a
shadow. Ever since peace was signed,
the strain of British French relations
imposed by the Numerically opposite
aims of the two countries has fore
Swallowed a rupture.
England's sole interest is the estab-
lishment of peace conditions n res
tcratiOn Of trade. This is necessary to
the existence Of a country which lives
by external commerce. England has
no interest in the economic or political
destruction of Germany. The objects
of the war were accomplished and
every interest has pointed to the neces-
sity of establishment of economic
relations. with Germany.
This has been England's idea
French aims of impossible indemnities
Germany. Both those aims are mu-
tually destructive, and it has never
been quite clear which France desired
more. Was it money or was it dis
ruption of Germany? Poincare's pro-
posal pointed to the latter. All the
international experts were agreed that
the scheme as to the fkancial expedi-
ent was folly. As to the expedient of
Remembering Germany and destroying
her life, the Poincare scheme would
be effective.
Would Break Germany
would endorse this sentence Of death
on Germany.
The question Is what motive remains
has POincare come TO the conclusion
that France can afford to dissolve the
entente and rely upon independent ac-
ton. or is he gambling on the reluc-
lance of England to suffer a breach
with France in order to secure an ap-
consideration is sustained by the nor
nous military predominance. France
has now established over Europe. That
predominance is a sinister shadow.
There remains to be seen whether
France. confident of the strength of
her military position, will proceed alone
on a policy that has been conedmned
by the opinion of all Europe. 1t is i'm
possible to answer this now. The incl
dents of Poincare's departure from
London created a disquieting impress
sion. His attitude was n of calculat-
ed coldness. and his view in the Paris
press upon his return there did not re-
lieve the situation. His refusal to sub
NIT the matter to the League of Ma
tons or a reparation commission
closes the door to a compromise.
Relying on Sympathy
The view is held that Poincare is
relying upon English sympathy for
France being too powerful to permit a
break if France holds out. That course
has prevailed always in the past.
Opinion today is changing. and the
death of Lord Northcliffe has removed
the most powerful advocate of the
French policy from England's public
life. There is no element of English
opinion that wants a break. but if the
price of a continuance of sympathetic
relations is surrender of the hope for a
peaceful reconstruction of Europe.
then a break is certain.
Should France decide to put through
the Poincare proposal of force alone,
the gravest situation arises. A mere
negative attitude by England is impos-
sible. England occupies territory on
the Rhine and would be confroted with
the problems arising out of the estab-
Iishment Of the proposed custom line
through that territory. What would
be her attitude? Will she consent to
administer customs and so ~stultify her
self? This is only a typical example of
the difficulties that would emerge.
Once France is started on separate
action. it is clear the entente is
doomed. 1t is idle to speculate as to
the consequence Of so tremendous a
fact, but it can HARDLY fail 10 spell
final disintegration of European civil
~ization. 1t is the hope that France
yet see the peril Of isolating her
self from the public opinion Of the
world.