The Washington herald., 1922-09-26

the British !, mood Is caused By
something more than this, that this
calculation plays only part In the
making Of the whole state OF mind.
The fact Il that the United States
has publicly ana -.forcihiy refused
an alliance which had been aslesd
by the British upon sentiment4l
quite, as much as upon material
grounds. We have hurt British
pride. we have repulsed genuine
friendship and we have incidental
.ly damaged their pocket book. q.
Meantime one must see the fn-
ternational effect Of our course.
The British government renounced
the French for the prospective
American alliance. The break be-
tween France and Britain increased
with each week because British
policy. relying upon ultimate Anglo
American alliance. refused to make
the concessions which would have
to be made to preserve the en-
tente. The British have believed
that in the end We would Join them
In imposing their ideas upon the
French.
Brftfsh Cannot Coerce France.
But the fact IL that we have not
Joined and the British cannot alone
coerce the French. Instead the
French have steadily constructed q
continental group, made up of Bel
gium. Poland and the little en-
| tente. made up in fact of states
which have as strong reasons as
France for seeing the essential de-
20 81 he De-
served, whereas the cardinal doc
trine of British statesmanship is
to get them revised and to such a
lean support.
would be able to take a high tone
with France and with the con-
tinent generally. Even as II stands
Britain holds the notes of all Of her
old allies for vast sums. But this
does not give her the whiphand,
because none of her debtors has
the incentive to pay which would
grow out the prospect Of receiving
further loans. For the present the
British are not in a position to make
the enormous contributions neces-
Isary to put Europe on Its feet. These
must come from the United States
or nowhere.
Given this situation none of the
European states which owe us
money will say that 1t cannot or
will not pay us. eventually. But this
is exactly what they all say to
Britain. everyone of her debtors on
the Continent. Tney would not,
however, say It II the AngIo-Amer-
lean alliance existed. Again call
attention to the fact that the british
do not expect to collect these debts
what they do calculate upon. what
they still calculate upon. is selling
them for political advantages, and
they would like to have our claims
sold at the same time, for the ad-
vantages to be gained would be far
more considerable
But back Of ali this lies the Amer
lean power to make further loans
II we were in an alliance with
Britain. then We should use this
power In accord with British views
but now We can use 1t as we please
and. as a matter OF fact. our govern
ment seems destined to step aside
and leave II to private capital to
make loans as 1t may choose. But
this excludes the use of the financial
weapon to force any European COM
pliance with British or American
IDEAS, this is resignation in the face
OF opportunity from the British
point of view and IL will lead to a
blunt refusal of the Continent to
pay any attention to British at
tempts to sell the old debts for new
political concessions.
British Recovery Postponed.
Now. looked at in the larger sense.
the American refusuI to accept
British partnership has terribly
postponed British recovery, both Do
liticai and economic, and the thine
Is the more disappointing now be-
cause the British have all along
calculated that in the end we should
come to their assistance, cancel our
claims upon them for war debts
join them in making the cancellation
of our claims upon the continen,
contingent upon the submission of
the continent to demands which
would greatly help the British
economic situation. We have. in
stead, left Britain to fight II out
with France and the continent with
out our aid.
In insisting upon the payment of
the British debt We have done even
more. We have deliberately reduced
the financial resources which from
time immemorial have been the
chief British political weapon. II
the British have to fund and pay. us
five billions and interest they will
be Just that much poorer when It
comes to using financial influence
to achieve political and economic
results on the continent-and the
political are mainly subordinated
to the economic.
Now in this situation the English
man not unnaturally, although as
I see 1t quite unujstly, believes that
we have deserted him. although he
finds it quite impossible to under
stand why the Frenchman should
accuse him of deserting the French
ally of the war. Having wanted
the American alliance with all his
heart and soul and needing it from
every material standpoint, the En-
glishman, many Englishmen like
Kipling. now feel that the alliance
did exist, was completed at Paris
and that We have been false to our