Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-05-01
Lloyd George Put In
Most Critical Condition
BY HARRY NJ. RICKEY
Especial Cable to NEA Service
Copyright, 1922, by NEA
Service.l


GENOA, May /. - Before Lloyd
George left London for Genoa, ne
made a speech in parliament outlin-
ing his plans. One of the opposition
remarked that in attempting to bring
the Russians back into the family Of
nations, the premier was embarking
on dark and difficult mission.
There is reason to believe that
Lloyd George now knows how exact
ly true that prophecy was.
1t is doubtful whether he would
have made the attempt in just the
way he has if he could have known
that he would have to face Ger
man-Russian combination and guard
his rear against French attack.
AS events have developed the Brit
lsh premier has been put in the most
critical position in his career. He
has gone too far to turn back.
Slipping Toward War
Now he must successfully conclude
treaty with Russia in which other
European powers will join. The all
Tentative is not only personal defeat,
which would probably cost him the
premiership, but Europe as a whole
will be further from permanent
peace and normal industrial life than
at any time since the war.
This last is not a loose statement.
made for the purpose of sensation.
1t is literal fact.
Two of the highest officials of the
British government, speaking with
authority to American and British
newspaper men, have pointed this
out as the irresistible logic of the
situation created by the German-Rus-
sian attitude since the treaty was
signed.
Russians the Canoe
This attitude, even more than the
treaty itself, is what is causing the
allies to take such grave view. Up
to the time the treaty was signed,
the Russians seemed to be in a very
| reasonable, even concilatory,
mood. And the Germans were so
quiet that it looks as though it
would be comparatively simple
matter to line up the whole of Ell
rope on a sane program of peace
and reconstruction.
Since signing the treaty with Ger
many, the Russians have entirely
changed their attitude, and there
seems to be no doubt that every
move they make is the result of de-
cisions between themselves and the
Germans. They have made definite
proposals to the allies-and then
withdrawn them. They have made
direct answers to the allied proposals
and then insisted upon fantastic
interpretations of these answers.
The Russian policy seems to be to
take the fullest advantage of tie po-
sition which their alliance with Ger
many gives them and to force the
rest of Europe through fear of
future German-Russian military ag-
gression-to make a treaty with
them on Russia's own terms.
These terms, SO far as they can be
deciphered from Russia's various
proposals, answers and propaganda,
! include full recognition of the So
yiets and the granting of large cred
/ its by other European nations in re-
turn for which the Soviets agree to
recognize pre-war debts, payment to
be deferred 80 years without inter-
est.
They insist upon having all their
war debts wiped out and are very
hazy as to how they win pay foreign
nations for property which they
have confscated since the revolution.
| The Russians whole idea now
seems to be that by shrewd diplom-
acy and the German alliance they
are in a position to dictate terms to
the rest of Europe, and especially to
! Great Britain.
French Fairly Mad
/ The French reaction to this may
.(Continued on Page Three.)