The Washington herald., 1922-05-15
GENOA MARKS END
OF LLOYD GEORGES
rule, SAYS WRITER
POincare May Take Place
As European Leader,
SimOnds Declares.
REVERSE IN FARLEY
Believes Battle Over Repara-
tions Will Mark Final Stand
OF British Premier.
REVERSE IN FARLEY
By FRANK H. SIMONDS.

In estimating the meaning of
Genoa 1t is necessary to recognize
that it may result in the substitu-
tion of Poincare for Lloyd George
as the most influential man in Eu-
rope. In the nature of things, the
battle of Genoa has been 4 personal
duel between Lloyd George and the
former President OF the French Re-
public. who. first in private life ana
then in office. has challenged the
British prime minister.
Up to the moment Poincare sue
ceeded BRAND, Georges success in
every contest with the representa-
tives of other countries had been
uninterrupted. At Paris he bested
both Clemenceau and Wilson. ana
each in turn met with domestic de-
feat in consequence. After Clemen-
ceau a long line of French premiers
have appeared and disappeared as a
result of collision with the great
Welshman. BRAND was only the
last, and his fall was directly due
to his Cannes surrender to George.
In Italy similar consequences have
followed association with George.
Recourse to New Policy.
1t remained for Poincare to take
recourse to a new policy. Just as
the French general staff finally pre-
vailed over the famous Hutier tao
tics by which Ludendorff won the
opening battles OF the campaign of
1918, PoinCare by similar methods
has defeated George. In 1918 the
French method consisted in retir-
ing and leaving the Germans to oc-
htt
French artillery. Poincare has
avoided the Georgian tactics by alb
sentinG himself from Genoa.
Between Poincare and George the
stake of the conflict was plain. If
George were successful at Genoa
Poincare was bound to fall and
be succeeded by Tardieu. As to the
maneuver. George and Poincare
very frankly strove, for European
support Success for George was.
insured if he could successfully iso-
late France and place upon Poin-
care the responsibility for wreck
ing the conference.
France wins Support.
But now, as we approach the end
of the conference. II is clear that
1t has been France and not Britain,
Poincare and not George. who has
won European support. Today the
French cause has the, support not
only OF Belgium, Poland and the
nations of the little entente
namely. Rumania, Czecho-Slovakia
and Jugo-Slavia. together with Po-
land-but also that of Japan. More
over, not a few neutrals-notably
Syitzerland-have indicated their
preference for the French thesis in
the matter of Russia.
We in the United States have re-
mained too completely under the
influence of events in the Washing
ton conference to perceive the drift
in Europe. Here the battle for
American approval turned over
whelmingly in favor of the British.
But at Genoa the. result has been
just the opposite. After fve weeks
OF session the single country re-
naming solidly with the British
Is 1ta1y-and even Italy. while
standing with Britain at Genoa,
calmly signed a treaty with Turkey
behind British backs.
Reasons for Defeat. /,
why has George. after so MANY
successes, finally met with defeat?
Largely because he has undertaken
to impose a British view upon the
continent. To be sure, this British
view finds wide American accept
ance, but on the continent expert
ence and tradition lead to quite diff
ferent conclusions. AS to Russia,
George was warned in advance by
Benes that the little entente did
not advocate immediate recognition
or complete surrender to Commu-
lose other countries.
But, after all. the Russians have
Continued on Pace Too.