Evening star., 1922-10-22
LLOYD GEORGE MAY FIGHT
ON TO REGAIN POWER
HisRecOrd Bellies Idea of Retirement in
+ Britain's Affairs-National Policies
May Be Revamped.

the country. and these must be set
tied by the new government.
How far the political changes VIII
affect early settlement of the most
troublesome issues remains to be seen.
but either the foreign policies OF
Lloyd George will be upheld, England
will relapse into period of ultra con-
| servatism or take an advanced posi-
tion.
There is no question but that Lloyd
Georgian policies have. in many cases.
antagonized wartime allies. This
came to a head in the Turkish situa-
tion. while the Lloyd George stand on
reparations has not in the least tend
ed toward strengthening the ties be-
tween France and England. Whether
England will continue to stand az
firmly for England's interests and
against the rest of the world. ii need
be. in regard TO the Dardanelles and
in the general Turkish question re-
mains to be seen. Likewise the rep
arations and debt questions are soon
to be solved. or. at least are slated to
be taken up in Brussels some time
during November. Lloyd George and
various French premiers have differed
radically as to just how Germany
should be made to pay, and it remains
to be seen whether England will still
remain a check on French insistence
that guarantees be exacted from the
Germans by the allies or whether she
SuppoTl6
Question Of Preparations.
Though the Turkish peace is
fraught with grave possibilities and
may yet result in far-reaching dis
cord as between the allies on the one
hand and interests inimical to wal
time policies. it nevertheless remains
fact that the French and British
policies in regard to German repara-
tions must be brought in closer align
ment. else the two countries will con-
tinue their rapid drift apart. The
conservatives of the old school in
England are more in accord with the
French viewpoint-that is. they have
SO expressed themselves-but whethrr
these utterances have been for politi-
cal effect upon the premier and not
sincere. Is conjectural. Bonar Law
and his new regime may initiate
policy of rapprochement with the
French which will entirely alter the
general reparations and debt situa-
ton, though it is hardly likely that
the British will go to the extreme
limits the French have proposed in
collection of reparations and settling
the interaliied debt cases still pend
ing.
Sir John Bradbury during the past
ten days has presented to the repara-
tions commission a plan for a five
year moratorium for Germany, Ger
many giving adequate guarantees
that the allied war bill will be paid
as soon as the financial and CONNER
cial situation is bettered In Germany.
This has been Lloyd Georges plan in
| order to get European trade to going
again. 1t is resisted already by the
French, who may make counter pro-
posals involving the cutting of the
entire reparations bill and balancing
off of allied debts in the ratio Ger
many is permitted to escape payment,
but the fall of the Lloyd George cabi-
net may undo all that has been pro-
posed by both Bradbury and Poincare
and involve the framing OF entirely
new proposals and counter proposals.
One Of Gravest Issues.
But one of the gravest issues to be
confronted by any British govern
ment in the coming year is the COM
batting of French influence designed
to the disinterest of British policies
throughout southeastern Europe and
the near east. Premier Poincare's
emissary to Moscow has reported ia
vorably upon a resumption of COM
mercial relations with the Russians,
the Russians having given promises
of payment of the French czarist-
loans. With the French backing
Turkish policies there is growing be-
lief in London that it is only Ques-
ton of time before Russia. France
and Turkey will be working in clos
est cooperation and that with France
controlling the political actions of
many of the smaller nations. England
will be placed in an isolated position
in regard to continental affairs
There is growing belief that any such
union will bring Germany and Eng
land closer together, whether Eng
land likes 1t or not. Unless there be
much diplomatic maneuvering on the
part Of England. French plans can
not be frustrated. Lloyd George un-
questionably inspired the French to
further anti-British alliances. and it.
is a question just how far the new
British government can or will go to
undo his policies and set in motion
more definite and sympathetic CO.
operation with France.