Evening star., 1922-04-28
OFFICIAL US. DEAF
T0LL0YDGE0RGE
Premier Must Look to Public
Opinion for Answer to
Chaos Speech.
By DAVID LAWRENCE.

! 61 OAtAU AAWA6NCEs
Prime Minister Lloyd George viii
have to look to American public opin-
ion and not the United States gov
ernment for an answer to his plea tor
American aid to prevent European
chaos.
Those in position of authority here
feel that the American attitude to-
ward the British prime ministers .
alarming speech should be developed
without suggestion from omcial
sources.
No one doubts that Mr.. Lldyd George
and that the practical problem with
which Europe 10 confronted involves
a critical set Of circumstances for all
concerned. But that has been Eu-
ropes problem from the beginning
at least President Harding has con-
sidered it his duty to regard the prob
lem as European, though to be sure
economic consequences Of a political
problem are apt to be SO injurious to
the United States that hardly any one
here is blind to the fact that just now
the political hisory of Europe Is in
extricably woven in the fabric Of eco
nomic reconstruction throughout the
world
Europe's Own Problem.
While the British prime minister
| implores Americas help, not neces-
sarily with physical force. but with
moral influence, one suspects that the
| United States government. meaning,
in this case. Secretary Hughes and
the other members of the cabinet
who have been developing American
| policy toward the Genoa conference.
believe as firmly today as they did
when the invitation to attend the
conference was rejected. that Europe
must, sooner or later, solve her own
crisis and do something of her own
initiative without the mediation or
| counsels of America
! There is, to be sure, a recognition
| better, q world crisis may be precipi-
| tated. and the whole face of things
altered, SO much SO. that Ameyica
| might throw tradition to the winds
| again as in April. 1917. But just a.
| the United States waited two ana
| for Europe to solve her conflict. 80
| would 1t seem that America, under
| republican administration, as under
| a democratic regime, would wait Tor
public opinion to force government
Intervention in a world disturbance.
| No Apprehension in United States.
| Somehow the gravity of the British
| prime minister's words does not
| strike a note of apprehension here.
Faith in the ability of European gov
| ernments to reach some kind OF an
| understanding among themselves has
not been lost. If Premier Poincare's
| go-it-alone policy should lead to ex-
tremes European opinion is still
| counted powerful enough to bring
| France to reason. An isolated France
Is not regarded as likely to oppose
a combined Europe.
| AS foy the meeting that has been
| called Of the signatories Of the Yer
| sailles treaty to discuss Germany's
default on reparatlons. America has
not been invited. While it is true
| that the United States in the treaty
Of Berlin accepted the reparation
| clauses of the Versailles treaty, the
| feeling of officials is that Americas
| stake in the reparation money is SO
! small that any settlement arrived at
| between European governments sig
| natory to the Versailles pact will be
acceptable to the United States.
Boundaries No. U. 8. Worry.
| Tho disputes about boundaries
| W ulCu AEo 6xAblA6 do . 4Vc0At "a tAO
! proposal to sign a non-aggression
| treaty are not disturbing American
| oflcialdom, because the United States
specifically has refrained from accept
ing in her treaty with Germany any
Of the boundary clauses Of the Ver-
sailles treaty. Theoretically America
may be affected by the meeting to
| discuss enforcement Of the reparation
l clauses Of the Versailles treaty, but
actually the United States looks to
! Europe to enforce the Versailles
! treaty. European opinion has per-
sistently contended that without
Americas power the treaty couldn't
be enforced any more than the league
Of nations could be made effective,
and. conversely, that American par
| ticipation at an earlier date in the OBJ
| legations Of the treaty, including the
league. would have prevented the
l present turmoil, to all of which the
administration turns q deaf ear and
| insists that the United States shall
continue to enjoy all tho advantages
| Of the Versailles treaty, without in
| curing any of the obligations. II
| world war results the administration
will in due time consult tho wishes
Of American public opinion as to the
| course to be pursued.
l Copyright. 1921
1
| Lying, cheating and theft are prac-
tically- unknown among the Eskimos.
4 h