Evening star., 1922-05-21
BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN.
horsemen are riding il
@ Europe today:
Nationalistic sefishness-

TOUR horsemen are riding in
E Europe today:
Nationalistic sefishness.
Political bigotry.'
Economic disintegration.. .
Ogre of warfare. =.
Helpless millions of people have
shuddered at their approach since the
world war. ~
Governments have aided rather
than impeded their course.
Ruthlessly did the forces of con-
tinued chaos bear down upon San
Reno. Boulogne. Brussels, London
and Cannes. scattering to the -FOUR
winds aspirations for better order.
They have left in their trail at Genoa
the mangled corpse of good intent.
And. as eyes even now turn with
longing toward The Hague, the dis
ciples of tho. old order give leeway
To those forces that ever have per-
cluded successful settlement of the
problems which have made Europe a
shambleS since the days OF 1914.
Little Accomplished
In Genoa Parley.
In Genoa, where for weeks the
leaders of western Europe have been
endeavoring to reach agreement with
the Russians in the hope that eco
nomlc and financial accords might be
effected in order that Europe as
whole might at the earliest possible
date become going concern, states
men are holding their customary
wake.
In the Genoa deliberations there
t. m MIL n
the two opposing forces have be-
come acquainted for the first time.
Therein lies possibility of future
agreement. There has been reached
agreement as to non-aGgreSsion for
the next eight months, or until four
months after The Hague conference
has ended.
Gleefully as European statesmen
may announce progress in the gen.
eral solution of the vesatious Euro
pean problems. the fact remains that
the powers today are as much apart
as they were before Genoa began.
And. If the truth must be made known,
Genoa has not failed because 1t was
impossible for the allies to come into
agreement with the Russians. 1t has
been due to the fact that the four
horsemen have held forth among the
allies themselves. Despite protest
tions of wonderful friendship to the
death. there exists jealousy, anti
G.
there is little. Each is ready to sus-
pect the other of dealings behind the
back Each is ready to disembowel
any proposal that does not first of
all protect nationalistlc viewpoint.
The phrase international weaf has
become into bad odor, rather has 1t
become thing to be banded about
for the sake of propagation of politi-
cal biGotry and eNpediency. 1t was not
the Russians who made Impossible
stipulations to wreck the conference.
Notwithstanding the famboyant, ut
terances and propaganda, the Russians
on showdown have capitulated In large
measure and would probbly have re-
manned put had the allies not shown
signs of flouting Russian proposals
and taken no recognition OF RUSSIAN
communistic interests.
All Have Reason to Suspect Russia.
There is no doubt that France
and other nations have sound reason
Yet without Russia they cannot
progress as is necessary.
The allies have failed to show the
spirit of give and take which econo-
mists and financiers the world over
agree is essential to the promotion OF
trade, industry and social advance.
Even though the British and Italians
would have Joined with the Germans
and Russians in general agreements,
France and Belgium made 1t fmpos-
s!ble to reach such understandings as
would bring Russia even temporarily
within the fold.
The spirit of i'll will dominated the
Genor sessions during its later days,
owing to Frances constant threat TO
withdraw and constant reiteration of
utter contempt for the Russians.
With Lloyd Georges failure to appease
The French. Notwithstanding his stand
with them in demands upon the Rus
SLAMS, the latter had little to do but
nreserve what they term their own
political and economic theories. Natu-
rally they threw obstacles in the way
of complete surrender of what they
deemed right and just principles, ar
guing that there was no more reason
why they should surrender than
France and the allies should give up
their ideas.
There is no question but that the
opposition of France to the various
in wrecking the conference. Lloyd
George. brilliant statesman that he
is, hardened to the hustings at home
end rather than break with France
ssraddled the middle course in order
that he might preserve his political
future. England today is divided
about half and half on the principle
that England should support France
and preserve the entente through
sunshine and shadow. There is an
other school growing Increasingly
strong which insists that England
withdraw her support of France and
adopt the American attitude of isola-
tion. thereby making possible British
trade and expansion. Bondage of