The New York herald., 1922-02-03

Copyright, I9ee. bv THE NEW YosK HnRALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
London, Feb. 2.
} The triumph of the Washington con-
ference win smooth the way to Genoa,
according to authoritative expression Of
opinion here to-day. Both official and
editorial expressions say that Secretary
Hughes erred on the side of modesty in
his estimate of the conferences impor-
tance. The only fly In the ointment al
luded to. is by the usually Lloyd Geor-
gian Chronicle, which says that the
Root resolution against the unrestricted
use of submarines, poison gas. &C.. can
only amount to pious resolutions without
definite sanctions subscribed to by the
various sgnatories.
What the British hope will follow in
the train of the epochal decisions writ
ten at Washington yesterday may be
roushtly summarized ss follows:
FIRST--Definite assurance of the
ability to cut down armament to fit In
with the Geddes committees recommen-
datioRs for reductions in Great Britain's
lighting services. This will help largely
the coalitions ambition to cut shilling
or more from the income tax before the
general election. which. after Lork Birk-
enhead's speech yesterday seems even
closer
SECOND--while British officials and
even the British press are extremely
reluctant to express anything that might
even seem like advice or guidance for
France. it is evident nevertheless. that
there exists here hope that France
will so see the benefits accruing from
the washington spirit as first to make
possible q reasonable renewal of the
Entente and then the general coopera-
ton OF all nations at Genoa, with France
and Great Britain playing the leading
hands.
Persons in authority here do not feel
that Frances present attitude OF mind
warrants any great hope Of that full CO.
operation between the two nations upon
which the British believe so much OF
the worlds future now depends. There
IS disposition to make allowances for
the sort of red tape by no means un-
familiar TO the Foreign Office which
permitted a delay in the presentation OF
the French Near East viewpoint until
the eve of the conference OF the Foreign
Ministers in Paris. though the French
lad the British viewpoint weeks before,
but it is plainly stated that the reply
from Paris contained matters Of policy
iu the Near East TO which Great Britain
could never assent.
The original plan Of the Near East
conference cnvisaged an exchange oil
Viewpoints and a subsequent meeting to
straighten out any differences SO that
The final decision could be rendered as
being the unanimous opinion OF Great
Britain, France and Italy-thc only way,
Great Britain is convinced. In which
those decisions can be successfully I'M
posed on the Greeks and Turks.
The French note. however. Is charac-
terized as presenting essential diher-
ences so wide that any conference on
such a basis would be hopeless. Hence
Lord Curzons decision not to 80 TO
Paris.
But there is much besides tie Near
East question to straighten out before
France and Great Britain can go hand
in hand 60 Genoa. And unless the be-
neficent influence OF the Washington de-
cisions can effect a change moro quickly
than a long series of note exchanges, II
is felt certain that the Genoa conference,
IL held March s. will be robbed OF most
Of the best OF its fruit
Once the Near East Is Strengthened
out, IL Is recognized here that the aues-
lion OF Great Britain's relations with
France in the face OF another German
attack should be determined TO the COM
plctc satisfaction OF both sides before
The Genps conference. 1t Is recognized
4hat a change in Frances general atti-
in this matter than II is In the Near
East question, and also that participa-
rion by the United States Is closely tied
10 With tha. e..ange in mental attitude.
in otner words II is hoped that France
NAV feel that the principles and methods
which resulted in making the Pacific
really a peaceful ocean and in terrninat-
ing the naval armament race can rrc-
,cssfully be applied TO those other three
vlorld sore spots--the Near East. the