Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-09-18
BY A. G. GARDINER


Copyright, 1922. By The Great Falls Tribune
London, Sept. 1.-THE events of the
European drama shift with the sud
denness of the scenes of film play.
But, however they shift, they turn on
the relations between England and
France Wherever one looks today, TO
Russia. to Germany, to the Balkans,
be finds the two countries opposed. For
the moment Germany is out of the
picture.
The Greek catastrophe in Asia Minor
has revealed the alarming prospect of
new rupture. Undoubtedly Lloyd
Georges thoughtless words encouraged
the Greeks to suppose Great Britain
would support them. On the other
hand, France has assumed the German
role of the friend of the Turk. Their
triumph is VIGOROUSLY due to a large
supply Of French war materials and
the astonishing outburst of French en-
thusiasm over the affair was an undis
guised demonstration of their feeling.
What follows? The Turks, flushed
with victory, and experts at the old
game of playing off one Christian ma
ton against another. aim at closing
the Dardanelles. This was the only
solid achievement of the treaty of
Seyres. The straits only can be kept
open through the united action of Eng
land and France. IF French popular
passion against England prevails and
France leaves the Turk free hand,
grave situation involving MesopOtamia
and India confronts England.
France Also Threatened.
A Turkish revival also ultimately
threatens French interests in Syria and
elsewhere, but the present atmosphere
of Paris, where very music hall rings
with the grossest insults, England's po-
siton is full of perils. At best the
gravity of the Turkish situation puts
powerful cards in the hands of France
She can say: ''Do this or we leave the
Turks a free hand.
In the circumstances the visit of
Lloyd George, to the assembly of the
League of Nations assumes increased
Importance. 1t will be the first time
the executive head of a great state ac-
the authority of the as
sembly by his presence. 1t is most
significant because of the comment on
the dissolution of the supreme council
1t can transfer its power to the league.
But can the transfer be made in the
present position and attitude of
France?
The league attitude and the mill
taristic position of France hardly can
be reconciled. The situation is recalled
by the remark of General SHUTS to me
prior to my interview with President
Wilson during the peace conference:
Tell the president" he said, the
establishment of the league depends
upon America. England cannot carry
the project alone in the face of hos
tihties. If America returns to her
isolation, England also will be driven
to such a policy, and the continent
will be left to drift to shipwreck."
viii League. Live?
Efforts to have the league live with
out America continue. But, while the
league excludes great powers, it is
doomed to be largely an academic
body. The fate of the league is with
France. The attitude of her repre-
sentatives at Geneva is not unhopeful
but it is useless to ignore the fact that
the main current of the French opinion
is one of negation to the aims of the
combination.
Will Lloyd Georges intervention
help or hinder? Once the most pop
ular person in France, today he is the
most reviled. In mailing his colors to
the league mast he issues an invitation
which may be challenge. 1t may
make or break the league. He real
ICES the enormous disaster that has
followed the policies of the last four
years and is anxious to reverse the
engine. But is he the man for the
task?
Unfortunately he is so discredited
by events that the fear arises that he
is unequal to carrying through so vast
an operation. Europe wants new men
to salvage the wreck the old men have
made. She wants new men with new
ideas and a new spirit. But where viii
we look for such leadership? War
and peace have destroyed every repu-
tation. Europe seems voiceless
{Conttnued on Page Eighty