Evening star., 1922-08-27
SUPREME COUNCIL
I KILLED BY ALLIES
British Editor Says London
ParIey Marked End of
League Body.
DECRlES new ALLIANCE
BY A. G. GARDINER,
Rrft,in,s Greatest Liberal Editor.


Britain,s Greatest Liberal Editor.
By Cable to The Star.
- LONDON, August 26.-The Euro
spean plot thickens. One fact rs
clear-the collapse of the London
conference has killed the supreme
council. Premier Poincare inferred
the corpse with his Bar lie Due speech.
What will follow the dissolution?
The general advocacy by the Paris
press of a continental alliance di-
rected against England creates an
extraordinary situation: On the one
hand is Poincare dismtsSIhg the su-
preme council on the ground that II
is inimical to Frances interests be-
cause 1t refuses to enforce Impossible
reparations. On the other is the sug-
gestion that all of continental Europe
shall act as a unit in opposing Bit
ish efforts to revive her trade.
1t is seriously to be supposed that
after her recent experiences Germany
would be reconciled to France sim
ply to make trouble for England! !
The idea of marshaling the continent
ness" 1t could only end in leaving
France. with her great military ma
chine. confronted with the hostiIlty
of all the great nations-Englano'
Germany. Italy and Russia. Even the
supremacy of the French arms. sup
ported by African levies. would be
inadequate to meet such situation.
british Are Not Disturbed.
Any attempt to marshal the contl-
nent would find it not against Eng
land. but against France. The Eng
threat. It is simply regarded as a
diplomatic move to force Britain's
hand. We await the sequel of Poin-
cares threat that France Will act
alone in taking control OF the Ger,
man mines and forests The general
opinion is that he will not carry the
threat into execution in the teeth OF
civilized opinion.
The proba Bile aim is to get England
TO cancel her French debts as the
price for the French refraining from
:'e:zing the Ruhr. 1t would pay England
to cancel this debt if that is the only
way to re-establsh the stability OF
Europe and to get France to disarm,
thus eventually securing concessions
from the United States. But the whole
return would be necessary for the price.
much as the Staying of Collins. 1t IS
p strange irony of strange times that
;h!s should be so now when only two
ears ago England placed price on
his head His gallantry and good nature
had made him a popular hero. and his
the British government and public. The
events that followed his appeal to De
Ea'e-a after the death of Griffith.
tieepens the sense of tragedy. The loss
Cf Griffith and now Collins is heavy
: low to the Irish Free State cause at
the very moment its complete triumph
vas assured. They have left no sue
,rssors of the same caliber. but the
feeling prevails that the cause now is
safe.
Rebel Movement Doomed.
The rebel movement in Ireland has
der gangs. and this latest tragedy will
rob it Of all sympathy from the Irish
public Bernard Shaw's denunciation
os De Valera expresses the sober senti-
rrcnt of the Irish people in regard for
the desperate fanatics who want to die
for ireland when their duty is to live
icr Ireland"
In view of the death of these leaders
he coming meeting Of the dali is
awaited with some concern. The feel
to.ard ireland. For the first time in
story England and Ireland have found
Ele basis for an honorable modus
v:vendi. Ulster is still irreconcilable.
but the conviction grows that Griffith
and Collins laid the foundation stone
tween England and Ireland. but ulti
,nately for a treaty of unity in Ireland
Itself.
One fear expressed is that this
t"asedy may inaugurate new methods of
,1.rorism and that others are marked
eown for slaughter, but all are con-
.Ninced that the Free State is not to
,succumb to murder plots. Meanwhile
;.n excellent impression has been created
by the action of the American courts
tying up De Valera's funds. Recogni-
ton of the Free State will be most
v-luable.
Copyright. 1927