Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-05-09
FORECAST fall
OF LLOYD GEORGE
Prime Minister in Dilemma at
Genoa-Break-Up Of Con.
ference Probable
RUSSIAN ISSUE INVOLVED
by CLINTON W. GILBERT
staff Core spondcnt Evening Public Ledger


STAFF Correspondent Evening Public Ledger
Copyright. 1879. by Public Ledger Compdni
Washington, May 9.--From sources
here usually we'll informed about the
intentions Of the Soviet Government, II
is learned that the Russians at Genoa
will decline the allied terms unless
there is a promise Of a large loan.
How they will frame the reply to
the Allies. which is expected in a day
or so. is not clear. Every maneuvcr
now is directed to fixing the responsi-
bility for the failure of the conference
upon the French. Therefore a cate
gorical mo- is not to be expected.
Their policy will be to protract the
negotiations, confuse the issue. and If
possible widen the breach that has
tended to develop between the French
and British.
If they fail to do this, il Lloyd
George on receipt Of the Russian reply
useless and adjourns the conference. the
Russian diplomacy will have failed.
May Throw Blame on Russians
Action like this by Lloyd George
immediately upon receipt of the reply
will throw responsibility for the failure
at Genoa upon the Russians and will
tend 10 solidify the Allies and make
separate agreements between Russia
and the rest of Europe unlikely and
this object of Russian diplomacy will
also be defeated. A movement for m
agreement among European nations not
TO act separately with regard to Russia,
such as is now reported from Genoa. is
one of the distinct possibilities if Lloyd
George says dramatically that the Rus
sian answer Is unsatisfactory as n
basis of further negotiations and closes
the Conference.
Lloyd George will be under great
temptation to do this. for Lloyd George
at Genoa must be considered In the ligh:
of his political situation at home. He
went to Genoa threatened with the loss
of power at home.
The Tory element in his Government
by declining to permit him to call a
general election on the strength of his
bringing about the Genoa Conference
indicated their weariness of his lead
, crship. Failing to get that general
election he had either to score a sue
cess at Genoat-hat is. reach a general
/ agreement with the other European
powers for the recognition of Russia
, or throw the blame for the failure Of
Genoa upon France and move forward
! to separate agreement between Eng
! land and Russia.
I If he could not bring about the ac.
ceptance by Parliament of a separate
agreement with Russia his government
/ would fall, but he would have an issue,
new orientation Of British policy away
=. from France and toward Germany and
Russia upon which he might lead the
opposition with some prospect of labor
and liberal support.
Quick Shift Possible
! But il Russia rejects the terms which
have been proposed to her with Lloyd
Georges approval. at Genoa, he is
estopped from suggesting to the British
/ Parliament terms more favorable. No
! new orientation of British policy to-
ward Germany and Russia is possible
under Lloyd Georges leadership.
/ The British Prime Minister, If the
Genoa Conference fails and he throws
the responsibility for it's failure upon
Russia, must make hasty volte face
: toward France. His enemies are al
ready trying to make this shift by the
willy and quick moving Prime Minister
! impossible.
That is the meaning of Lord North
cliffe's attack upon Lloyd George in
the London Times, charging him with
| having threatened NJ. Barthou, the head
! Of the French delegation. with the break
+ up of the Entente. Northcliffe has
seized the issue which he has been wait
: ing for long time and upon which he
hopes to overthrow the present govern
ment.
Lloyd George, who denies the London
Times story. will in any event be placed
in the position of having imperiled An
glo- French relations for the sake of an
impossible arrangement with Russia. If
Genoa leaves England with no choice
but to work more closely with the
French, Lloyd George will be the last
man to lead the country.
Fall Of Lloyd George Foreseen
The prospects point to the break up
of Genoa and the fall of Lloyd George
at home, a fall which will leave him
without an issue and without a party to
which he can turn. because the Liberals
and Laborites distrust him and would
only accept him perforce because he had
made their best issue. the bringing
! back of Germany and Russia into the
family Gf nations, his own.
! 1t will be interesting to see whether
he can extricate himself from this di-
lemma in the remaining days at
Genoa.
In the meantime the French are NOV.
! ing toward the United States with the
statement that they will be governed
with regard to Russia by the attitude
of this country.
If Genoa breaks up with the RESPONSE.
bilty for failure thrown upon the Rus.
sians common policy not to recognize
Russia separately and not to seek ex.
elusive monopoies or concessions In
Russia is likely to be arrived at tacitly
or expressly by all the chief Powers,
except Germany. To prevent the ex-
ploitaton Of Russia by tho nationals
of any one country has been the aim of
Secretary Hughes.