The Washington herald., 1922-05-15
EXPECTS AMERICA
TO CURB FRANCE
AS PARLEY FAILS
Gibbs Sees War Aims of
POincare Menace to
Europe.
U. S. HELP NEEDED
British Writer Demands De.
feat of French Pre-
mier.
U. S. HELP NEEDED
By SIR PHILIP GIBBS.

LONDON. May IA. Whatever
truce pact-or pious resolutions may
be the final outcome Of the Genoa
conference before It breaks up COM
pletely, its failure to settle the
great, urgent problems of Europe
or to create a better moral atmos-
phere among the European peoples
is now certain, visible and disas-
trous. The plain causes of that
failure, in my Judgment. are as
ample as they are alarming.
First of all, the absence Of the
United States. for inevitable rea-
sons no doubt. deprived this world
council of power which might
have thrown its weight on the side
Of conciliation and common sense
in a spirit of arbitration which
would have been respected by all
nations. Secondly, Lloyd George,
who called and inspired this con-
ference with the generous idea OF
lifting Europe out of a morass of
international rivalries and ruin by
a new plan of cooperation and
peaceful organization, was har-
rassed and menaced by the political
agitation behind him in England.
Thirdly, the decision forced by
France to forbid all discussion or
consideration of German repara-
tions or general rehabilitation
made any economic or political
stabilization of Europe impossible
from the outset.
Fourthly. the disagreement be-
tween allied and neutral powers on
the subject of Russia before the
conference began gave the Russian
delegates a chance. which should
never have been allowed. of making
separate treaties with single pow
ers and playing one against the
other. Fifthly. the most sinister OF
all that has happened. Lloyd
Georges program of conciliation
and cooperation for the sake of
world peace and the European FAM
iiy as a whole. has forced into the
open the political philosophy OF the
present French government, which
Is not based upon the interests of
the European family, but upon the
deliberate intention of using the
military strength of France to crush
Germany and dominate Europe.
We are in 4 worse state now than
IL the Genoa conference had not hap
pened, for II has intensified perils
which Law dormant, speeded up hos
tilities and policies which were play
ing a waiting game. and forced for
ward certain grave issues which
might have ben postponed and in the
course OF time eliminated. Stark and
10 ato nd fhfy n "a
of France to the peace of Europe.
1t IS no longer possible to use veiied
words about this. to tread lightly in
order to avoid French susceptibilities.
For the three years and more since
the peace of Versailles Britain has
been patient with French sentiment.
patient with French abuse, patient
with French fears, believing that this
abuse was due to newspaper agita-
uon. not rejecting the mind of de-
cent French people, and that war
neuritis accounted for the intolerant
and aggressive attitude.
Poincare Determined.
But the time has gone by for pre-
tending that the French government
under Poincare Is amendable to
persuasion or moderation. Men now
IN power in France are determined
at all costs to thwart the British
pollcv which is based upon fair treat
menf to Germany and generous treat
ment 70 Russia for the sake Of peace
ana economic recovery. They have
made their plans deliberately to
cripple Germany. As soon as Ger
many defaults in her payments, as
she Is bound to do within twelve
months at the longest delay. and per-
maps much sooner. France. wishing
YER 10 default will seize all her in
lustriai cities along the Rhine and