Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-09-25
LLOYD GEORGE MAKES A
MISTAKE WITH THREAT;
BRITAIN WANTS NO WAR
Prime Minister'S Political Gurgling Has Put
Power in Hands of Frances Diplomat, Says
Gardiner; Believes English Dictator Slipping
From Public Confidence; Says Change Needed

in wrong. The triumph of the Turks
over the Greeks inevitably precipitated
a grave conflict between French and
British policies.
1t is notorious hat France and Italy
had backed the Turks morally and
materially, while England encouraged
the Greeks. The victory of Renal
openly is hailed in France as a victory
over England. The situation brought
France and England to the brink of
a momentous decision. France has
only to stand aside to leave England
alone to cope with Kemafs claim for
possession of the Dardanelles and Con-
stantinople, and conflict with the whole
Mohammedan world.
Little Entente Terrified
French popular opinion favored this
course, but fortunately other consid-
erations interviewed. France is the
patron of the little entente, and the
little entente is terrified over the pros
pect of the return of Turks to Europe.
Moreover, French interests in Asia
minor are great and they are threat
ened by q too triumphant ~rehabilita-
ton of the Turk.
Such considerations have modified
the French policy and at the end of last
week it seemed that joint action be-
tween England and France to maintain
the neutrality of the Dardanelles and
Constantinople was imminent.
In the midst of the delicate negotia-
lions, Lloyd George flung a bomb in
the shape of a sensational manifesto
that the empire was ready TO defend
the fruits OF the war against attack.
Why was this issued? Was it an at
tempt to stampede France? If SO, it
was a fatal act in policy, as it gave
France precisely the excus she want
ed to adopt an attitude of benevolent
neutrality. Was it a domestic political
move designed to recover lost personal
blity? No one accepts the view that
the entire cabinet authorized the state
ment. The foreign minister was not
responsible. The cabinet is left in a
familiar dilemma; either it can resign
or accept the position and try to clear
it up.
Premier Made Mistake
If the premier expected a great pop
ular response in his manifesto he was
profoundly mistaken. The public re-
with universal hostility. Even the
Northcliffe press is placarding the
streets with:
stop the new war"
The labor conference declared:
Not a man; not a gun
Every section has denounced the lev
ity and recklessness of Lloyd Georges
proceedings. The chief mistake of the
incident is that it misrepresents the at
titude of the people. No one wants
war but no n wants the Turk back
in Europe. For a century the rule Of
the Turk has been the curse of Europe.
The n practical achievement of the
war seemed TO be the final overthrow
of the Ottoman tyranny. If that tyr
amy is to be r~e-established under the
protection of the most formidable mill
tary power on the continent, the situa-
ton would not be better than before
the war, but worse. 1t would perma-
nently embarrass Anglo French rela-
tons and obliterate all hope for the
restoration of Europe's basis in the
league Of nations. At best the episode
has enormously enhanced the bargain
ing power of Poincare in the present
struggle with England. Turkey is one
phase Of the issue which involves the
whole European problem and especially
the fate of Germany. On this the in
tSIesJS anu OuIIODh Oh England ana
France are Numerically opposed and
the serious developments in Asia Minor
gives French diplomacy q strong hand
in pressing for its own plan of extrem-
list action.
Lloyd George Slipping
Incidentally, the affair has reacted
seriously on Lloyd Georges position
in the country. There is a growing
of alarm at his irresponsible
handling Of weighty matters and his in
tendency to approach world
problems from the point of view Of
political startegy. With all parties he
stands at the lowest point since the
war and the suspicion that this latest
demonstration was governed ~ cleo
toral considerations prevails widely.
The conviction is growing that tie oil
can is not the best means of putting
out the fire raging in Europe and that
before an English policy of peace can
be pressed successfully against a
French policy of militarism, England's
must be entrusted to more re-
sponsible hands.