The Washington herald., 1922-04-25
POINCARE SPEECH
SPELLS.GEN0A RUIN,
: ASSERTS SIMONDS'

A0OGA i = 01N1OlNO6
Comtimnsed From Page One.
that criticism by what must be ac-
eepted as a frank statement that
France does not mean to Yield
either to England or to an associa-
tion of nations at Genoa which Is
under British direction.
You have then a verv clear sit
uation. To succeed. Genoa must
create at least the impression Of
European solidarity: there must be
at least a semblsnce of unity be-
tween enemy and allied nations Of
the war time. But In the first week
there emerges a treaty OF alliance
between Russia and Germany. and
in the second. the French prime
minister serves notice that. no mat
ter what happens at Genoa. France
reserves freedom of action in the
matter of Germany.
Real Crisis ON Horizon.
And freedom of action means
what7 Nothing more nor less,@han
the use Of French troops TO compel
GERMANY to comply with conditions
which she has already declared that
sic "Ouiu nOl dCCtpN. sNOw tuc
test of this must come on May 81.
when the reparations issue comes
UP fer new discussion. In all hu-
man probability the Genoa canfer-
ence long before that date will have
adjourned. Moreover. in.sccord-
apce with the agreement of Bou-
iogne. the reparations question cam
not be discussed at Genoa at all.
Therefore what happens tJGenoS
becomes unimportant by contrast
with what may and probably will
happen on May 81. II Lloyd George
attempts TO bring up reparations at
Genoa. Poincare will recall the
French representatives. But IL the
question is not brought up and set
tied, then there will always be on
the horizon the prospect OF a real
European crisis of almost unlimited
magnitude a few weeks hence.
Move to Isolate France.
No one will attempt to prophesy
what will now happen. But 1t Is
clear that the Poincare speech was
dictated by French sentiments and
even more by the state Of mind in
the French parliament. where re-
sentiment over Genoa events follows
intense disapproval at French at
tendance in the first place. II Poin-
care had not made the speech he
certainly would have been turned
out of power. He may be IN any
event. as the opposition led by Tar
dieu is daily developing strength.
Meantime events in Genoa are
shaping in the direction many fore
saw. Unless all signs fail Lloyd
George Is maneuvering to put
France in a position where the re-
sponsibility for failure will be hers
and m which she will be isolated.
In other words, Lloyd George -
preparing against failure. not sue
cess and is seeking to fix response
bility. This would give him a GER
tain advantage when he returns to
his own parliament and enable him
to ask the house of commons to
choose between himself and France.
Is Desperate Maneuver.
Yet it must be seen that this is
desperate maneuver which might
have little real success with a house
which has been very cold to hir'
If late. In any event, affairs would
seem to be sure TO move very rap
idly at Genoa now. The limit OF
possible achievement has been enor-
mously reduced. The extent OF the
disaster incident TO the publication
of the Russo German treaty is now
unmistakable.
This disaster was primarily re-
vealed IN France. where the last
semblance of French faith in an
peaceful adjustment with Germany
was destroyed. You have to appre-
ciate how general and how intense
is the belief tnat Germany Is pre-
pairing a new attack, to understa nd
tn. impression which would follow
the announcement OF a Russo-Ger-
man alliance. Moreover. the an
pouncement from London that the
Russians and Germans are negotiat-
ing. a new treaty of alliance with
Hungary must Create a similar sit
uation in al! the states OF Central
Europe.
So far. the Genoa conference has
done no more than reveal the de-
gree to which Eurooe is separated
not united. Instead OF making any
progress toward European assu
citation. it has only disclosed the de-
gree 20 which distrust. and worse.
separate most of the nations. not
only those which were recently en-
emIes. but those which in alliance
wor the world var. As disrup-
tive force. the Poincare speech rs
only less potent than the Russo
German maneuver. Together they
spell he ruin OF Genoa.
So far as Genoa is concerned. all
tha' woulG seem to remain is the
problem of how George will extract
from the situation the maximum Of
personal political advantage and fix
upon France the burden OF respon-
sibiiity for the failure OF the plan
tc reorganize Europe. And. as ]
have said. unless all signs fail. he
is tackling the job with his usual
skill. A breakup before the week
Is over would now seem, il not in
evitable, at least reasonably sure
But whether the break comes or not.
the cal possibility OF success has