The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-09-24
LLOYD GEORGES
 NEAR MOVE
 CALLED BLUNDER
French Diplomacy Strength- ened by Statement That Britain Would Keep Turks
 Out of Europe
By A. c. GARDINER

tBritain's Greatest Liberal Edit0r1 Special Cable Dispatch to The Aee-Herald z Copyright. 1s2a. by The Age-Hesaid)
 London, September 23.-The latest eruption of the European volcano is a superlative illustration of the levity of the Lloyd George method, When we are right his political jug gling puts us in wrong. The tri- umph of the Turks over the Greeks inevitably precipitated a grave con- flict between French and British pol icies.
 It is notorious that France and Italy had backed the Turks morally and materially while England en- couraged the Greeks. The victory of Kemal openly is haled in Franco as a victory over England. Tho situa- ton brought France and England to the brink of momentous decision. France only has to stand aside to ioave England alone to cope with Kemars claim for possession of the DardaneIles and Constantinople and In conflict with the whole Moham- medan world.
 French popular opinion favored this course, but fortunately other condi- tions intervened. France Is the pa- tron of the little entente and the It, tie entente Is terrified over the pros pect of the return of the Turk to Eu- rope. Moreover, French interests in Asia Minor arc great, and they are threatened by too triumphant re- Mobilization of the Turk.
 Lloyd Geor9e's Bomb
 Such considerations have modified the French policy, and at the end of last week 1t seemed that joint action between England and France to maintain the naturalization of the Dardanelles and Constantirople WAS imminent. In the midst of the del cate negotiations, Lloyd George flung bomb in the shape of sen sational manifesto that the empire was ready to defend the fruits of the war against attack. Why was this issued? Was 1t an attempt to star- pede France. If so, 1t was fatal act in policy. as it gave France precisely the excuse she wanted to adopt m attitude of benevolent neutrality. Was 1t domestic political move designed to recover lost personal prestigor Was 1t sheer Responsibility?
 No ono accepts the view that the entire cabinet authorized tho action. The foreign minister was not respon- sible. The cabinet is left In fa- miliar dilemma, either 1t can resign or accept the situation and try to clear 1t up.
 If the premier expected a great popular response to his manifesto he was profoundly mistaken. The pup lic reception of the suggestion of a rev war is universally hostile. Even the Northcliffe press Is placarding the streets with: .fse
 Stop the wari'
 The labor conference declared: Not a man; not gum"
 Every faction has denounced the levity and recklessness of Lloyd Georges proceedings. The chief mis- chief of the incident Is that 1t mis- represents the attitude of tho pep ple No one wants war, but no one wants the Turk back in Europe. For century the rule of the Turk has been the curse of Europe. Tho ore practical achievement of the war seemed to be the final overthrow of the Ottoman tyranny. If that tyranny was to be re-establlshed un- der the protection of the most for midabie military power on the con.i- nent the situation would not be bot ter than before the war. but inti- nitely worse. It would permanently embarrass Anglo-French relations and obliterate all hope of the res.o- ration of Europe on the basis of the League of Nations.
 France Gets Advantage ssAt best tho episode has enormously enhanced the bargaining power of poincare in the diplomatic struggle with England Turkey Is only one phase of the issue which involves the whole European problem, and es- pecially tho fate of Germany. On this the interests and outlook of England and France are diametrical- ly opposed and the disastrous devel- opments in Asia Minor give French diplomacy a strong hand in pressing for it's own plan of extremist action.
 Incidentally. the affair has reacted seriously on Lloyd Georges position in the country. There Is a growing feeling of alarm at his irresponsible handling of weighty matters and his tendency to approach world problems from the point of view of political strategy. His stock with all parties stands at the lowest potHt since tho war, and the suspicion that this latest demons stration was governed by electoral considara tfons prevails widely. The conviction Is growing that the oil can is not the best means of putting out the fire raging in Europe. and that before an English policy of peace can . be