Evening star., 1922-12-10
EUROPE'S SNARLINC NEEDS
FORCE PREMIERS TO ACT
Issues Threatening Chaos Can No Longer
Be Dodged-Allied Unity at Stake
in Settlement.

lines. that would result. unless coun-
ter-revolutionary movements in Rus
Sia be successful.
DecIsiOn Speeded Up.
The possibility of Germany obtain
ing closer working alliances with
Russia undoubtedly has speeded up
the allies desire to save the German
situation for western Europe. If the
allies should. according to the Brit
ish viewpoint. curtail the sum total
of German reparations and arrange
for a large loan to Germany in order
that she may meet obligations due
and past due. and then. as "a final
reconstruction measure. give Ger
many a moratorium for stipulated
number of years. German sentiment
would be more inclined to renig on
Russian alliances. The tides in Ger
many are drifting Russiaward and
the allies continue threats Of seizing
Germanys most valuable mineral
fields and control of her most inn
portant Rhineland industries.
The process of force will be re-
sisted by Germany. as Indicated by
Chancellor Cuno. who. although he
declares he will strive honestly TO
meet every allied eNaction. he VIII
not promise to pay rcparationS which
Germany cannot pay. He Will enter
into no agreement unless lie has
some chance of fulfilling it.
AS a consequence it is incumbent
upon the allies if they do not wish to
apply force to Germany to work out
some definite agreement as to repara-
tionS that will be satisfactory to all
of them and then confer with the Ger
mans and arrange its fulhllment
France is particularly eager To settle
the whole problem before January 10.
the date of tn" next great reparations
payment. 1t is incumbent upon I'oih-
care to give his people some bread in
the shape of definite guarantees that
Germany is going to pay. To some de-
gree at least, for the hi,lcnuS da ma geS
she wrought during the war France
even would go tc the length OF ap-
plying force and place absolute con-
troll over Germany'S financial situation
through the inStrumentality of allied
commi SSonS. but patriotism of Ger
mans generally would resist this move
and it would hut fire further the al
ready great hatred of the French.
which is growing as the days pass. as
reparationS remain unpaid and threats
from allied quarters continue.
will Not Approve Force.
Although it is indicated that Bonar
Law has not committed himself to
any definite policy. it is pretty well
establish that he has not. and will
not commit himself to a policy of en-
forced sanctions. and unless he and
Inincare agree on some compromise
as to the amount of rcparati"nS and
how they are to be eXacted. there will
come a split. I'oincarc is declared tn
have an elaborate reparati"ns plan.
~ in lltt,h "a Hon h,si
laid down at previous conferences be-
tween the allies. there is great doubt
whether it Will be presented in ta.:
present parley of prcmlers or whether
it will be gone into in d .tail at Brus
SIS should the latter parlcv he held
subsequent to the present meeting.
Premier l"inrare is committed 20 4
policy of force if tn. ti..GIIlanS do not
show good faith before the middle of
January The British "pp"s" and pos.
SiblI will have the ha".sInS of Pre-
ni"r Muss"lin. who. though be
wishes justice he done. is not willing
that the allies go to the lengths pro-
posed by France in collecting just
deserts. The Belgians would apply ,
force. if necessary. but it is Il queS-
ton in Brussels AS to whether much !
can be gained if Germany is ;lli"HLte,l
to the point of ushering in a new war |
as soon as it becomes apparen: that
she can physically do SO. Eut the |
BelgianS are eager that some acton
be taken at once-in fact, it is re-
ported. have gone so far as to notify
Premier Poincare that if the allied
premierS do not agree ON som: def
mite course of action in London. then !
the Brussels government viii refuse
to send out invitations for the Brus- |
sells conference. fearing that it may
meet the same fate aS that of Genoa. /
Agreement Is Necessary.
1t is pretty well agreed in all al |
lied capitals that there must be
agreement in London if anything at
all is to be accomplished at any time,
but before there can be agreement
undoubtedly the question of cancel (;
lation of debts will be~jected into ]
the deliberations as having a direct
bearing upon the question of reduc- |
tion of reparations payments. Bonar /;
Law may indicate Britain's willing
ness to a reduction of continental |
debts. but he necessarily will have /
to show his parliament something in i
the way of preservation of allied con-
cord and guarantees that Germany !
will pay the amount fixed. Like |
Poincare. he is in perplexing stu i
alton. for either the cancellation of |
debts or the approval of enforced |
sanctions against Germany is sure to |
lead to bitter assaults against his |
government. Mussolini naturally will |
present Italy's case in the strongest |,
terms and will not permit trifling !
with Italy's interests unless it be !
plainly apparent that obstreperous |
opposition will prevent all settle /
ment, in which case, for common !
veal. Mussolini may make conces- !:
Sions.. i
The real test will come in the ad- |
justment of British and French view |
points in such fashion as to bring |
harmony and definite program COM !
with Germany's ability to I;
with allied desires.
The gulf is wide and. if statesmen |
now assembled in London can bridge |
it. Europe may be expected to i'm |
mediately usher in a period of ad- !!
vance.