The Washington times., 1922-04-22
LLOYD GEORGE :
STRATEGY ONCE
MORE TRUMP HS
Premier's Shrewd Insight Said
To Have Had Full Prior
knowledge Of Rapallo Pact.
BY POLITICUS.

Lloyd Georges strategy, which
represents 80 per cent OF the direc-
tive force at the Genoa conference.
seems to have triumphcd again.
Ruthless. inscriptions. ever ready
to do today what he condemned yes
terday, the British premier has long
since mastered the trick of staying
on top, whether ship rides on its
beam, its keel, or Its tunnels. You
can't lose him, no matter what
happens.
What a snap he would have had at
the arms conference here In Wash
ington! At Genoa there has been
more to test his seamanship. But at
the end of a perilous week he ap-
pears to be master again. AS was
to be expected from the amount OF
anti-German and anti Russian noise
that he made. he has pulled out a
compromise which certainly cannot
be called violently opposed to the
interests Of either Russia or Ger
many But II leaves France in a po-
sition which any foreCaster who had
watched Lloyd Georges past per-
formanCe could have prOphesied for
the gentlemen from Paris. They are
now in position where their with
drawal from the Genoa conference
would be most difficult, yet there is
in the compromise engineered by
Lloyd George hardly a grain of com.
fort for the French. The treaty at
Rapallo stands; the Germans and
Russians will have the right to par
ticipate in all Of the Genoa meetings
which do not cover the subjects they
have settled for themselves by the
Rapallo agreement. and the lineup
of the Germans and Russians. backed
by the neutral powers and now ap-
parently on friendly terems with
England and Italy. leaves France
and the little entente in a difficult
position.
Feigns Surprise.
II II easy now to understand all
that Lloyd George has done during
the last six days. When he heard
on Easter Sunday night OF the sign
ing OF the Russo German compact,
nc feigned a surprise that II is hard
to believe was genuine. II must be
remembered that the British foreign
office is no State Department.: II has
an intelligence service that certainly
knew what everybody else in Eu-
rope seems to have known-that the
Germans and Russians were about
to sign a most comprehensive treaty.
There probably was scarcely a diplo-
mat in real standing in the British
service in Europe who did not have
q pretty good line on what the
treaty would contain:
An admission Of that fact on the
part OF Lloyd George would have
wrecked the Genoa conference at
once. AS II was. IL probably took
lot of soothing influences TO keep
the indignant Paris delegation from
boarding night train home. The
very vehemence OF Lloyd Georges
denunCiatiOn of the "tr6aChery" at
RapallO served to disarm the
French
Had they gone away, the Genoa
conference would have been wreck
ed for good. and all Lloyd Georges
plans would have been on the
scrap heap. His violent outbursts
kept the French at Genoa.
the most strenuous champion OF
the outraged French feelings, and
has promised them the most abjeCt
punishment OF the wicked Russians
and Germans.
French Delayed Too Far.
For these promises. the CUnprO
mise reported from Genoa seems q
pretty anti-Climax. But the I'M
portant thing is the fact that the
F'renchmen are still at the confer
enCe. Had they left week ago,
the world would doubtless have de-
clared them justified, and the Ger
mans would have carried the bur
den of wrecking the session. II
they leave tomorrow they will
carry the blame for breaking up
the party.
Had they left a week ago. it is
likely that by this time the French
armies would have been marching
across the Rhine. II they under.
take such a stunt now they will do
it against the counsel of all their
former allies. A week ago Great
Britain and Italy might have been
compelled to aCQuiesCe, at least
Now they will be far more likely
to I've open in their opposition. That
is tie greatest achievement of the
Lloyd George strategy.
OF course, 1t is all far from quiet
on the shores of the Mediterranean.
A lot Of things must still be done
before there is anything that re-
sembles a step toward world recon-
struCtion. But at least there are
no casualties, as yet. That Is
something to be thankful for.