The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-05-21

ment, but sooner or later and
probably sooner. the crisis must
come.
At Genoa as at Washington the
underlying purpose of British
policy was to isolate France. At
Washington IL succeeded because
there is far closer understanding
between Britons and Americans
about foreign affairs. and because
at Washington British and Amer
lean ideas were identical while
French interests were at certain
points antagonistic. But at Genoa
British policy failed because the
conditions were reversed and many
continental nations had interests
and conceptions identical with the.
French.
The difficulty Americans have In
appraising the situation lies In the
fact that we find it almost i'm
possible to understand that there
are two conceptions. not one. in
Europe. two sets of interests. We
talk quite loosely about. a right
way and a wrong way identifying
the British way with Righteousness
and the French with wickedness
hhu VIC HdNt naive ldith tndt
right must prevail because 1T is
right, ignoring the fact that mil
lions of Europeans regard what we
consider right as not only wicked
but absurdly foolish.
History Repeated.
If one. cared to look into history
he would find that what Is now
taking place In Europe has hap
pened over and over again for cen
turtles. French policy now is fol.
lowing historic lines in reaching
out for Polish alliance The
French association with the newer
and smaller states against ultimate
Russian and German menace finds
a dozen presidents. Great Britain.
at first with American aid carried
by Mr.. Wilson, has undertaken to
reorganize Europe upon Anglo
Saxon lines and Europe has in the
end rejected our system and our
ideas. This. too, in the case of
England and the continent Is ac-
cording to history
Paris was a first attempt to ap-
ply the Anglo-American idea to
the continent of Europe. That idea
was expressed In the league of
nations of which Mr.. Wilson sup
piled the conception and Great
Britain the actual form. BUT
when Europe had finished with
this joint production it was no
longer Anglo-American. while II
still fell far short of what the
continent regarded as the irreduci-
Die minimum of recognition for
European principles.
England Quits Continent.
Genoa SeCODd
much more restricted in purpose
but still based upon the abolition of
alliances and the substitution of a
general association. an application
OF the idea OF the British common
weaiths or OF the American States.
Once more Europe refused to be
converted and George had the ex-
nerfence of Mr.. Wilson at Paris
One more Europe, demonstrated that
1t neither could nor would think in
terms familiar to the Anglo-Saxon.
Reverting to the inevitable inter-
rogatioh-What will come next? 1t
seems to me the most likely inn
mediate consequence will be the
withdrawal of Britain from Euro
pean messes, exactly as we have
withdrawn and England has retired
after all other general continental
wars. Such a withdrawal is most
likely IL there forms a Russo-Ger-
manhattan group which counter
balances the Franco-Polish-l little
entente association. Such retire.
ment Is less likely IL France now
acquires mastery upon the con-
tinent.
Sees Franco-Germ,r Pact
OF course there is one POSSIBLE
lty which must not be reckoned
with. namely an ultimate associa-
ton between France and Germany.
at least begun on economic lines.
Absurd as this may seem to Amer
leans, IT Is not held impossible
either in Paris or Berlin. The
French theory is that just as soon
as Germany finds that Britain cam
not protect her from France. she
Will come to an agreement with her
old enemy. France. now in posses
sion of most of the iron Of the con-
tinent. Germany, of the best. coal,
could make formidable economic
association into which Poland would
be drawn quickly.
Such an association might easily
develop into political combina-
ton later. If 1t did, the meaning tn
Britain would be obvious, because
1t would mean elimination from the
markets of the continent But OBJ
viously this is far cry and British
craftsmanship is hardly likely to
permit II, without desperate bat
tie. What one has now to recognize
Is that the failure of Lloyd George
at Genoa has opened the way to .
real French control of the con-,
tinent, blocked for the time. at
least all chance of a real associa-
ton of European nations and
stared again the old system of al
liances. To put the thing succinct-
ly, the continent, has again rejected
Anglo-Saxon ideas and returned to
those which represent the teach |
ings of its long and bloody history.