The Washington herald., 1922-05-28
u. S. ONLY HOPE OF BRITAIN
IN EUROPE, SAYS SIMONDS

Europe is concerned. that France has
more and more successfully drawn to
herself the states Of Central Europe,
created or aggrandized by the war.
British policy, which more or less
falls In with American conceptions
has had the effect Of rousing the
fears and resentments of all of those
states and urging them more and
more completely into alliance with
France. Even Japan with Russian
anxieties. has moved toward the
French In recent months perhaps
FASTENED little BY British action In
Washington.
Sti!l another factor must be OBJ
served. The neutral nations OF Eu-.
rope. notably Switzerland and Holland,
while perhaps sympathizing with
British idea on many questions, were
never impressed by the British effort
to bring the Russians back at the
price Of very large concessions and
the sacrifice of principles which
seemed to them-as they do to us
fundamental. Thus the Georgian pur-
pose to recognize Russia, even IL
Russia refused to recognize the rights
of property found at Genoa Immediate
| opposition In the ranks of the neutrals
and this opposition tended more and
more to isolate Britain. ''
Lloyd George Spurred France. \
Britain, under Lloyd Georges i'm
pulsion. however, tended more and
more to commit itself to two things.
the restoration of Germany and the
\ recognition of Russia, without much.
regard for the interests or rights Of
the other continental nations. As
British unemployment continued, as
British economic conditions became
increasingly alarming. Lloyd George
more and more threw all discretion to
the winds and sought more and more
earnestly to placate Russia and to
protect Germany.
The natural consequence OF this
policy was the alienation of France
and the creation of a situation In
which France became the champion
Of the smaller states all OF which
were threatened by the German and
Russian strength. II either country
while still retaining its old ,aspira-
tons and clinging to dreams of re-
venge and the restora tion of old
territorial and political conditions.
were restored to their former strength.
U. s. Wrecks England.
In all OF this time the fatal handi-
cap to British policy lay in the alb
sence of the United States. Had we
stayed in Europe, we should un-
doubtedly have supported British
policy and for a time at least our
wealth and our power would have
fortified British views. which are in
the main ours. But with the United
States out of it. power rested not
with the British but with the French.
who kept an army supreme on the
continent, hence the British attack
in Washington and elsewhere upon
the French army. II only the army
could be removed. France would have
nothing to offer to the smaller states
in return for their support in interna-
tional conferences and would be COM
PEELED to make terms with the Rus
SLAMS and the Germans.
When Lloyd George went to Ge-
noa, he was already a defeated man
His political situation at home was
compromised. but his continents
situation was destroyed. He went
with the purpose to bring Russia
back into the circle of European
powers. but to do this he had to be
able to guarantee that such a Rus,
sian return would have no menace
for all the border states He went
to welcome Germany into the coun-
ellis of Europe. but such German re-
appearance would only make for
new discord, IL he could not guar
antee German acceptance of the
conditions made at Paris.
| Genoa Is Wedge,
So far from doing either thing
Lloyd George had to face at the
opening, the announcement of the
Russo-Germar treaty of Rapallo
which was a new and shining ex-
ample of the European idea of al
lance. After that the end was al
ways In sight. Under this obvious
menace all the states Of the little
entente, as well as Poland and Bel
gium. Joined themselves straight of
to France. Poincare sitting in
Paris controlled the situation. Be
mes. the premier OF Czecho- -Slovakia
and the ablest statesman in Eastern
Europe was the open ally of Bar
thou. As the conference developed
and Lloyd George in desperation
made concession upon concession to
the Russians. even the neutrals
Motta, OF Switzerland. for example
took the French view Moreover
to save the conference Lloyd George
had to agree to the elimination OF
Germany from all Russian discus
sion and this. in a moment. de-
stroyed the Illusion of a German re-
appearance in European councils.
/ wish could make II clear to my
American readers that the signiA-
canoe of Genoa lies exactly in this
revolt Of Europe. this reaction OF
the states created as a consequence
OF the war or increased at the ex-
pense of Russia and the enemy
states. against the British policy
which seeks to placate Russia and
Germany at the expense OF all OF
these states Once the question ot
revision OF the Paris treaty Is
raised, all the continental states
which prnfited bt these treaties are
necessarily united in opposition to
such a course.
| French Army Is Key.
And since France is the most
powerful of these continental states
and French opposition has been
steadfastly presented to the whole
Lloyd George program, France is
going to benefit In all international
conferences and on all such issues
will have the solid support Of the
little entente, of Poland and OF
Belgium. All ethe British can de-
pend upon are GERMANY Italy and