The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-04-23


placsd. menaced by Russia in Bes-
ssrabia, by Hungary in Transyl-
vania and by Bulgaria, still an
other potential ally. from across
the Danube
Btieny then. France. Poland.
Czecho-Slovakia and Rumania are
immediately threatened. placed in
utmost peril by the new alliance
and 1the adhesion of Bulgaria and
hungary. A natural adhesion in
sures the enlistment of Jugo-slavia
on the French side. You have,
theH2 at once two new European
coalitions, Russia. Germany. Hun
gary and Bulgaria on the one hand
and France. with Poland and the
little. entente states OF Rumania,
Czeeho-Slovakia and Jugo-SlaVia
on the other.
A Natural Attainment.
Now because this alignment is
natural, perhaps Inevitable. because
II represents the logical develop
ment of the situation. once such a
plan has been launched. il cannot
be Recalled by mere verbal agree
met At Genoa, Europe had to
choose definitely between alliance
and association and the decision
has been made.
There remains the problem Of the
Other great powers Of Britain and
Of Italy. To judge by the moment
Italy seems destined to drift. II not
to march toward the German camp.
The British position remains more
obscure Yet one may suspect that
neutrality will be the ultimate Brit
ish role But. for the moment II
Is enough. perhaps. to emphasize
the fact that the Genoa conference,
which started ouc to achieve eco
nomiC reconstruction has at the
first moment resulted in a new po-
litical combination.
a 0 Lloyd George. BIunuer.
Lloyd Georges blunder is like
khat of Mr.. Wilson. In 1918, Mr..
Wilson believed that the agony OF
the war had produced a new spirit
sn the world and on that sssump-
! tion.s he based his plan for the
league of nations. Lloyd George
assumed that as a result of the
misery of the postwar time. the
economic chaos. there was new
spirit in the world. not moral but
material. and on this assumption he
based his Genoa combination. But
both Wilson and Lloyd George
proved wrong. because both misun-
derstood their Europe. Europe
which remains immutable. faithful
TO lis histories and traditions. the
first of which is alliance.
Politics First Consideration.
The first week of the Genoa con-
ference has demonstrated clearly
precisely those things which not
only in Europe, but in Washington,
had been expected. 1t has made
LLOYD George for the moment the
central figure in the world 1t has
superfciaIly realized thus the main
purpose for which the conference
was called. for underlying all else
in lhe history Of the conference
! are the political necessities OF the
British prime minister.
- But in elevating Lloyd George
the conference has also brought
She Russian issue squarely before
phe world The Russian delegates
have divided. il they have not mo-
nopelized, not only the interest and
the attention of the world but also
the decisive role. The first week
Of the conference has thus been
Russian as well as Georgian. Lloyd
George is playing for political re-
Mobilization at home Russia is
playing for recognition abroad.
The question remains as write
these lines whether it is possible
for Lloyd George and the Russian
representatives to find a common
ground.
French Isolation Looms.
Meantime France finds herself
isolated precisely as all French OBJ
servers expected she would be.
and-the political signs in Paris all
point toward a change OF govern
ment. Brands surrender to Lloyd
George at Cannes doomed him.
Poincare's consent to 90 to Genoa
compromised his situation in ad-
vance and leaves him now in
critical situation, since French
prestige has been lowered during
the opening days of the confer
|, encs.
In consideration Of what has
Happened and is TO happen at
Genoa. IT,. is necessary beyond all
t'se TO bear in mind the actual CON
dition in Europe at the present
hour. To judge from statements
which were made to me in Paris
ny the representatives Of many ma
tons. neutral as well as allied.
and by trained observers familiar
with the German and the Russian
situation. the European condition
. dIsintegrating and degeneratinE
with very gFeat rapidity.
Believes Farley Hopeless.
Practically every government.
sveEy ministry which is repre-
scnted at Genoa is negotiating
with a rope around its neck. Lloyd
George. Tchitcherin. the Russians
andSthe Germans as well are in
reality conducting negotiations
abroad with an eye single to their
own political necessities at home,
This-is what makes the Genoa con-
fcrence hopeless. and this Is what
makes the present European situa-
tion approximately hopeless.
Lloyd Georges pet scheme for a
mutual guarantee Of the iptegrity
of national soil and for a pledge to
refrain from aggression reads well
on paper. appeals to romantic
idealism. both abroad and in the
Unieed states. but has mot the
slightest relation to facts as the
exist on the continent at the pres.
ent moment.
When l left Paris ten days aro .,
was tthe settled belief of the ma
jority of those with whom I talked
that there would be fresh military
operations in Europe before the
sumper was out. that a new French
ministry was certain and that this
ministry would be forced to take