Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-09-11
By A, G. GARDINER

7 US tUE SuLSOi " nb oitfSS -
gotten source of help and rescue
the League of Nations. The chief
obstacle to that heIpfuIness of the
ieauue TO-DAY is not the repudia-
ton of America, but the insistent
military policy of France. The
supreme council, which continued
the spirit of war days, has broken
down. and even Lloyd George, who
treated the league for a time WIKI
scorn and contempt, no" ex-
presses a willingness to appear be-
fore II If invited. MIR. Gardner
ayows that the meeting of the as
semhIy of the league at Geneva IS
: most timely. Public opinion IS
turning more and more TO tne
league.)
London. Sept. 1O.-This week sees a
/ noticeable and notable change IN the
atmosphere of Europe.
After having regarded 1t virtually
with scorn for a year or more, punnc
opinion is swinging around to the
League of Nations as the only means
of saving Europe from final disaster.
The situation in Europe everywhere
bristles with bayonets.
The supreme council, supposed TO be
more powerful than the league, IS
dead.
Supreme Councti DEAD
Panic stricken nations are engaged
in a wild "sauve qui sent"
What follows-the only alternative
is the League of Nations.
This was only a vague phantom
while the supreme counci operated.
Even the survival of the league was
doubtful. France was openly hostile
to it. Lloyd George was indifferent;
But now the collapse of the council
is producing a new point OF view. Inc
meeting of the league at Geneva this
week has been watched with deepest
interest.
II is evident that Lloyd George is
willing to make an appearance peIore
the assembly if invited. He realizes
that the supreme council is gone and
that the league now comes to the
front as the parliament Of Europe.
The oupstion now is will France mod
ifv her attitude toward the league.
France must be aware by now that a
separate pact with England or Amer
lea is out of the question. No party
in England would dare support the
n]roposal of a separate treaty with
france The United States would not
think of it. Moreover, such a pact IS
not necessary to the defense OF
France.
Germany is disarmed and impover-
ished. while France is the only great
military power left in Europe. Inc
once proposed separate treaties wouid
not now defend France from an ATTACK
military dictatorship of France IN
Furope. If France still feels she
needs external assurance of protection
she must get it through the League
of Nations. Briefly, the issue before
Europe today is between French
militarism and the League OF Nations
between anarchy and order. Inc
vital question is how can the auth0rlt!
of the league be strengthened. ENG,
land is anxious for the inclusion oil
Germany and is prepared for the in
clusiop of ireland. Unfortunately, thu
Irish free state treaty has not beer
ratified by both England and ireland
But for that obstacle Ireland nigh
have been admitted to the league a.
the present assembly.
League Called Logical
The discussions in the assembly OF
the subjects Of reparations and arma
ments nave gone to the heart or m
troubles of Europe. Even with 1T
present n e-sided constitution thu
league expresses more and more o
stability to the reasonable mind of thu
world.
The supreme council broke dowI
under the weight of that policy. WI
the league break down, too! Tn
struggle will be a hard one. but
hopeful factor is that France is be
ginning to realize two things. One j
the financial folly of her present polio
and the second is the growing hostlht,
of the world to a substitution o
French military domination in Europ
for Prussian military domination,
The more the United States make
it clear that it will have nothing q
do with militaristic Europe, hit VII
co-onerate with a pacific Europe, tn
more certain will be triumph OF tn
League of Nations. OIL.
Meanwhile, the temporary resplt
given Germany by the PREPARATIONS com
mission has relieved the situation
Europe breathes again with the sus
pension of French action and the symp
toms and change in the attitude
Premier Poincare. The hopeful I'M
n~ression prevails that France is begin
ming TO realize that she cannot procee
with her policy for the disintegration G
Germany in the face of public opinlo
of the world.
Appeal to America
The appeal to America is significan
All eyes in Europe turn increasingl
toward America as a source of hop
and health. Germany turns for on
motive, France for another and Eng
land for a third. But all hopes ar
ultimately one. Europe is caught in
whirlpool of passion and needs al I'M
pire-disintPrested, powerful, sympa
thetic. to resolve it's discords.
Hence. the extraordinary interes
everywhere in the visits of former Gov
ernor Cox and Colonel House. | ha
the privilege Of dining with each befor
their departure. | was much impresse
with the sanity of their survey of III