Evening star., 1922-08-20
FRENCH ATTITUDE
WORRIES ENGLAND
Britain's Only Desire Is for
World Peace and Trade,
Editor Declares.
P0lMCARE IS PUZZLE
Should !, France Dissolve Entente
Grave Results Would Threat.
en- Europe.
PolNcARE is PUZZLE
BY A. G. GARDINER.

Britsin's Greatest Liberal Editor.
By Cable to The Star
/, LONDON, Aug. 1s.-Where is Eu-
rope drifting? With the breaking up
OF the London conference and the
conflicting policies of France and
England declared, the entente has be-
come a shadow. Ever since peace
was signed the strain of British
French relations imposed by the dia-
metrically opposite aims of the two
countries has foreshadowed rup-
ture.
/ England's sole interest is the estab-
lfshment of peace conditions and a
restoration of trade. This is neces-
sary to the existence of a country
which lives by external commerce
england has no interest in the eco
nomic or political. destruction of Ger
many The objects of the war were
accomplished. and every interest has
pointed to the necessity of re-estab-
fishing economic relations with the
reformed Germany.
Aims Of France Scored.
This has been England's idea
throughout in her conflict with the
french aims of extraction Of impossi-
ole 1ndemnities and the political dis
memberment Of Germany. Both those
aims :. as. are mutually destructive. and
!. mas never been quite clear which
France desired most. Was 1t money
or was it disruption of Germany
Poincare's proposal pointed to the
latter All the international experts
agreed that the scheme as to the
financial expedient was folly. but as
to the expedient of dism em bering
Germany and destroying her economic
il1e, the Poincare scheme would be
enective. It is inconceivable that he
supposed Msland would indorse this
sentence of death on Germany.
The question is. what motive re-
mains? Has Poincare come to the
conclusion that France can afford to
dissolve the entente and rely upon in
dependent action? Or is he gambling
on the reluctance Of England to suf-
fer breach with France in order to
secure an approximation of his policyo
The former consideration is sustained
by the enormous military predomi-
nance France has now established
over Europe. That predominance is
OF the discussion. England has until
recently deliberately shut her eyes to
that shadow. but 1T is now. no longer
possible to ignore it. and the recent
panic caused by knowledge Of Eng
lands inferiority in the air is the first
D, I
unspokeH.
VIII France Proceed Alones
1t remains to be seen whether
France. confident Of the strength of
her military position, will proceed
alone on a policy that has been con-
demned on economic grounds by, the
opinion of all Europe 1t is impossi-
Bile to answer this now. The incidents
OF Poincare's departure from London
created a disquietinE impression. His
attitude was one of calculated cold
ness and his interview in the Paris
press upon his return there did not
by any means relieve the situation
His refusal to submit the matter to
the. league OF nations or a reparations
commission closes the door to a COM
promise. and Poincare's significant
reference to Easland's proposal of the
admission of Germany to the league
indicates another source of irritation.
One view that is held Is that Poin-
care is RELYING upon English SYM
pathy for France being too powerful
to permit break If France holds out.
the past. but opinion today Is chang
ing. and the death Of Lord North
cliffe has removed the most powerful
advocate Of the French policy from
English public life. There is no ele-
ment of English opinion that wants
ance of sympathetic relations is sur
render of the, hope FOR a peaceful
of Europe. then a
break is certain. .s,s
Germany Fears Break.
: Germany fears a break. Germany
realizes that disappearance Of Eng
lands restraining influence upon
French action would confront her
with desperate possibilities. This in
tense fear is reflected in the further
collapse of the mark.
Should France decide to put through
the Poincare proposal of force alone.
the gravest situation arises. A mere
negative attitude by England is i'm
possible. England occupies territory
on the Bhine, and would be con-
fronteq with the problems arising out
Of establishment of the proposed Gus
toms line through that territory.
What would be her attitude? Will
she consent to administer customs
sent to French ofncials entering this
territory to carry out a policy she
This is only typical ex-
ample of the difficulties that would
emerge.
once France Is started on separate
action, 1t is clear the entente ,fs
doomed. IT Is idle to speculate as to
the consequences of SO tremendous q
fact. but 1t can hardly fail to spell
final .disineegration Of European civil
f1atfon. It Is the hope that France
may yet see the peril Of isolatipg her
self from the public opinion Of the
world. -
Copyright. 1927 7;