The Washington herald., 1922-05-28
ME. or the German merchant ma

htSS % Wv .StNs- AA,
rine.
BY contrast both Italians and
Rritains feel Very strongly about
the Polish occupation Of Upper ST.
lesia and Of Eastern Gaiicia, they
object to French presence on the
Rhine. in the Sarre and to the
French claims for reparations. Yet
France at Mayehce has as good
basis OF right as italy at the Dren-
ner, since in both cases the ques-
ton is. one of strategic frontiers.
As for Poland In wilma. in Lemberg
or in Kattowitz. she can rest her
claim in each town upon the pres
ence of more Polish inhabitants
than there were British inhabitants
OF any German colony annexed at
Paris.
Poincare Dominates.
The truth is that we are seeing
the quarrel In Europe between two
interests. British interest is com.
pretended In an imperious neces-
sity to restore the markets of Eu-
rope that Englishmen may live at
home. and not be forced to migrate
in vast numbers. 1t is not a mere
sordid desire for profit that spurs
Lloyd George on his course. On
the contrary II Is a matter of life
or death for millions OF his fellow
countrymen. But the difficulty Is
that the French, the Poles. the
Belgians, the Rumanians. the
Czechs. the Serbs feel their lives
and the future Of their countries
similarly involved and identify the.
success Of British policy with the
ruin of their own nations,
As long as France could hope for
a British alliance which would
promise security. without demand
ing vital sacrifice. that is as long
as France could believe that in a
modified form at least. her idea of
alliance would be accepted by
Britain. the Anglo-French entente
remained and the British were alb e
to make II the. basis for exerting
much restraining influence upon
the French. But that time has
passed and with It the influence
Pofncare has definitely defeated
Lloyd George on the continent, be-
cause he has refused to let the ex-
istence of the entente restrain his
freedom of action.
Conflict Approaches.
Looking to the future, then, wha'
does one see? French supremacy In
Europe unless the United States
goes to Europe and definitely line.
up with Britain. But IL we do
then ultimately we shall have tc
share in the Inevitable conflict
which can alone permit a revision
Of the treaty of Versailles clauses
but not otherwise. But by nc
known method other than fighting
can We Persuade the Poles or the
peoples of the little entente to re.
sign territories acquired at Paris !ol
since Paris.
The battle for the revision of the
treaty of Versailles has been lost
so far as territorial questions are
concerned. The effort to revise ha,
created a European alliance Of the
nations which are determined &c
preserve II and that alliance has
wrecked Genoa and defeated Lloyd
George. The battle for the revision
| OF the financial clauses OF the treaty
can only be decided when Britain
and the United States consent tc
cancel their claims upon France
and Germany gives proof Of readi.
ness to pay the sum due France. re.
duced by the amounts forgiven
France by the United States ant
Britain.
France Is Victor.
As for the fight to obtain a re-
| duction of the armaments of Eu-
ropean nations. that has been lost.
because IT was recognized on the
| continent as a flank attack upon
the treaty of Versailles itself. since
the treaty depends for its exist
ence upon the armies Of the states
which desired its survival. After
three years of almost incessant
diplomatic warfare Lloyd George
has failed In his effort to organize
Europe in conformity with British
| interests. which are on the whole
| quite similar to our own. In his
effort to abolish alliances he has
created a formidable alliance. in his
attempt to isolate France he has
made her the center Of a formidable
| group of countries equally desirous
J of preserving the. status quo. To-
| day the mastery of Europe rests
with this group and Paris regains
something Of its old Importance as
| the continental capital.
As for the talk in the American
| Senate about the. revision Of the
treaty of versailles-it is about al
! timely as a similar discussion over
| the revision of the treaty of West
phalia save in the matter of finan-
cial clauses, which we, can have
modified IL we are willing to pay
the price, but not otherwise. Diplo-
matically speaking. Genoa repre-
sents for France as great victory
as did the first Marine. militartly,
and the British defeat Is as great
as was the German. II anyone
| doubts this let him read the ar
ticles of the many British newspa-
/ pers which supported George and
his continental policy.
Copyright, 1897
/ AHDDTNA nENIEC