The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-09-03
EUROPE, ON VERGE 0F ANARCHY, LOOKS TOWARD AMERICA
Gardiner Says America Can Decide Whether League of Nations or French MiIi-
 tariSm Will Survive
By A. c. GARDINER

Special Gable Dl6pALCn to In6 ARe-herAiu (Copyright. Is22. by The AEe-Herald) London, September 2.-Europe is
 like patient with a high fever, the
 doctors watching at his bedside. The
 German mark, like the pulse of the
 patient, leaps up and down in wild
 agitation under the influence of
 hopes and fears. Poincare failed, | London now stands obstinately for
 the administration of the bankrupt
 estate.
 The real clue Is that French big
 business wants the destruction of the
 political independence of Germany.
 The French biz business interests de- feated tho German offer to restore the devastated areas. The same in- terests block the path of settlement | now. Under the treaty. they have
 got Lorraine from Germany. but they 1 need the Ruhr coal to operate it and
 thus complete mastery of the indus trial resources of Europe. These powerful trusts dominate French policy, control the chamber and own the Paris press.
 Poincare is not unsympathetic to them. He is a great corporation law yer and for 20 years acted as the ad- visor of the trusts. So while malign | influences prevail, it is usless to look for change of heart in France. Con fident in her unchallenged military power, she will resist every proposal that falls short of her economic and political domination of Germany. Shc repudiates the reparations commis- sion and the League of Nations. Germany and League Tho Paris press threatens that Franco will withdraw from the
 league if Germany is admitted with out conditions of economic slavery. We await with anxiety the proceed ngs at Geneva. England has official ly declared for >Se admission of Ger | many. With France opposed, the fu- ture of the league is imperiled If the question Is raised and a rupture fol- lows.
 Germany has flown a kite of sug- gestion that she is willing to accept financial control of her affairs by 8 disinterested power. indicating the United States. It is not likely that
 America would undertake the biggest liquidation of bankruptcy in history, but every day makes it clearer that Europe cannot escape from the
 morass in which she is engulfed
 without the moral as well as the
 material assistance of the United States.
 America's withdrawal from Euro- pean affairs would be the greatest disaster in the history of civilization. Is Europe worth saving? That ques- tion affects America today no less than 1t did in April, 1917. What Eu- rope needs is the exercise of 8 great disinterested Influence standing rok
 reasonable possibilities and equal justice with pacific motives. There is only one such influence in the world. and that is the United States. In this connection, the declaration of Governor Cox that America should participate in the discussion regard ing separations has aroused extraor- dinary interest. It is realized that he speaks as a private individual, but the declaration brings the hope that America may hold out helping hand to Europe before 1t Is too late. <'snscrfption Flares Up The nced is most urgent as the breach between France and England widens. Tho latest development in
 this breach 's sinister. It is claimed that tho French conscript British ~ d This raises 2 grave issue at theaA raw est possible moment. It Is inconceiv- able that the French will persist iu a policy calculated to arouse bitter
 resentment in England, where con- scription Is hated and where public
 opinion is uneasy because of Frances
 great African armies conscripted for
 service In Europe.
 Sooner or later the importation of
 black soldiers to the continent must
 be faced. It Is a challenge to the
 white civilization of Europe. We did
 not ligh@ the great war to arm
 Africa against Europe. It is mon
 strous that four years after the war.
 black soldiers still are entrenched ID
 the heart of Europe
 Silence on the subject out of re-
 spect to France cannot be main
 tained- Europe will not have African
 armies as a permanent institution on
 tend to ignore this enormous fact.
 The certainty that it will be raised
 explains the French coldness toward
 the league. If militarism prevails,
 the league dies. Conscripting African
 armies for service in Europe ia an
 insult to an institution designed to
 establish peace and non-military CO.,
 operation bs;ween the powers. If the
 league cannot send the black sol-
 diers back to Africa 1t becomes . jest and surrenders to the French arms. That is the issue behind all of the controversies of the moment. Which is to dominate Europe, the league or French militarism? What does America want? It has the de- cision In it's hands.