The Washington herald., 1922-04-24
By SIR PHILIP GIBBS.

=
is like one Of the old Greek dramas
In which humanity is playing its
little part on life's stage, but is
the sport of unseen gods and under
some spell of fate from which X
cannot escape until 1t has accom-
plished its DOOM. As in the Greek
drama. the chorus IL as important
as the players. interpreting their
action and breaking in upon their
speeches.
The chorus to the Genoa confer
ence is the newspaper press of Eu-
rope. and its comments are like the
bowling Of the witches of Macbeth.
Let us study the plot of this drama.
1t is the first assembly Of al the
great nations save one-the United
Ststes-engaged in that Armaged-
don. which brought the civilized
world to ruin afte- the massacre Of
its noblest youth. victors and van
Quished are sitting down together.
not with love in their hearts. but
under the necessity of devising
some plan to repair the devastating
effects OF the conflict and start
again the machinery OF civilization
thrown out OF working order and
almost wrecked.
CONSCIOUS OF impotence.
The men representing those ma
tions are to some extent conscious
OF their own impotence. They, hear
the distant laughter OF the gods
and feel the pressure of the un-
known forces OF fate and that in
evitable law OF the Greek drama OF
life which makes it impossible for
men to escape the penalties of their
81, IL
Of them. who let forth the furies
Now II is hard to chain them up
again. II was they who made an
unreasonable peace after Arranged ;
don. blocking their own way OF es-
cape from ruin. and preparing new
catastrophes. They appealed to
the lowest passions OF mob law and
now are afraid of their own people
They lied and are now afraid to
tell the truth.
Above all they are afraid of the
chorus jee-ing them In the worlds
press. threatening death to them IL
they depart from their old falsi-
ties, reciting, reiterating the old
spell words. demanding not more
truth but more lies. not new sanity
but worse stupidity. not plans for
peace but more deeply dug en-
trenchments of hatred for further
and inevitable conflict.
Enemies Rnise Chorus Of Menace.
Men of good will there arc In
this assembly OF nations. men who
stare at the realities Of life with
steady eyes and hopeful vision. bus
they have enemies about. raising a
| chorus of menace lest they should
dare establish a reign of common
sense inaugursting an era of peace
Writing in palmer words. certain
things are emerging clearly from
what has happened already at
| Genoa.
The most important revelation is
the determination of Lloyd Georges
enemies to arouse popular suspicion
and prejudice against any effort he
may make to reshape the affairs OF
Europe in such a way that its in
dustrial recovery may be quickened
and its peace secured. They would
rather have Europe remain in chaos
than have Lloyd George regain his
| power. There is also a wide-reach-
ing agreement to prevent any recog-
| milton of the Soviet Republic in Rus
sia. whatever concessions Russian
representatives may make. what
ever guarantee they may give.
Thirdly. there is the clearly re-
vealed policy OF Poincare. of France.
but not Of the French people. that
will obstruct any arrangement
whatever which would lead to the
demobilization of the French army.
the Modification OF German repara-
tions. or any alterations by SO much
as comma of the treaty of Yer
sailles.
Lloyd George Holds Interest.
Lloyd George is still the most in
teresting character of this world
drama staged in Genoa. His plan
for a pact OF peace in Europe would
obtain the support of all level
headed men and women IL his hands
were free to deal with IL squarely.
But his hands are not free. As he
sits there in the conference room
Of St. Georges Palace. he is con-
scious Of political powers at home
watching every move he makes
analyzing every sentence he speaks
hready to gag him II he exceeds their
| instructions. He sees this problem
Of European reconstruction as a
simple exercise of common sense
Russia must be brought back as
soon as possible to economic life.
Her present government is by all
reports strong and enduring. There
fore It must be dealt with and
recognized under strict guarantees
Germany cannot escape bank
ruptcy IL the present penalties are
fully enforced and European trade
won't revive II that happens. There
fore Germany must be given more
time to pay and the payments must
be modified. International ex-
changes will never be stabilized as
long as the mark continues to fall
Therefore 1t is necessary to
strengthen the mark by financial
rearrangements.
Red Army Prevents Peace.
Peace cannot be guaranteed in
Europe as long as the Red army
remains in being, and while under
intense pressure from France, Ger
many is tempted to a military al
\ lance with Russia. Therefore for
the sake of peace 1t is necessary to
dcmobilize the Red army in return
for a peace pact with Poland, diplo-
matte recognition Of Russia and
| economic aid. This Is perfectly
simple. But 1t Is almost impossible
owing to the conservative press OF
England. beating UP prejudice and
bespattering him with the mud OF
Bolshevism and his own colleagues
winston Churchill the most
dangerous among them-lea sued
| with his political adversaries in
| ..naropda for vote catching. 1t is