The New York herald., 1922-05-14
Lloyd George Menaced at
Home and France Elm -
: mating Chief Topics.
TOO TENDER WITH RUSSIA
French Ambition to Crush Ger
many by Force and Domi-
nate Europe.

spectnf Gable to THE New YORK HERALD.
Copyright, 1922. by TIE NBw YORK HERALD.
BY SIR PHILIP GIBBS.
LONDON. May 13.-Whatever truce,
pact or pious resolutions may be the
final outcome of the Genoa confer
ence before it breaks up completely, It's
failure to settle the great urgent prob
,ems of Europe or to create better
moral atmosphere among the Euro
pean peoples is now certain, visible
and disastrous. The plain causes OF
that failure, in my Judgment, are as
ample as they are alarming.
First of all, the absence OF the
United States, for inevitable reasons.
no doubt, deprived this world council
of a power which might have thrown
its weight on the side of conciliation
and common sense in spirit of arbi-
tration which would have been re-
spected by all nations.
Secondly, Lloyd George, who called
and inspired this conference with the
generous idea Of lifting Europe out OF
a morass of international rivalries and
ruin by new plan of cooperation and
peaceful organization, was harassed
and menaced by the political agitation
behind him in England.
Thirdly, the decision forced by
France to forbid all discussion or con-
sideration Of German reparations or
general rehabilitation made any
economic or political stabilization Of
Europe impossible from the outset.
Russia Seizes Opportunity.
Fourthly, the disagreement between
allied and neutral Powers on the sub
ject of Russia before the conference
began gave the Russian delegates a
chance which should never have been
allowed of making separate treaties
with single Powers and playing one
against the other.
Filthy, and most sinister of all that
has happened, Lloyd Georges program
of conciliation and cooperation for the
sake of world peace and the European
family as whole has forced into the
open the political philosophy of the
present French Government, which is
not based upon the interests Of the
European family but upon the deliber-
ate intention of using the military
strength of France to crush Germany
and dominate Europe.
worse Plight Than Ever.
We are in a worse state now than IL
the Genoa conference had not hap
pened. for it has intensified perils
which lay dormant. speeded UP hostili-
ties and policies which we're playing a
waiting game and forced forward GER
tain grave issues which might have
been postponed and in the course Of
time eliminated. Stark and naked, as
1t were. stands this menace of France
TO the peace of Europe. 1t is no
longer possible to use veiled words
about this, to tread lightly in order to
avoid French susceptibilities.
For the three years and more since
the peace of Versailles Britain has been
patient with French sentiment, patient
with French abuse, patient with
French fears, believing that this abuse
was due to newspaper agitation, not
rejecting the mind of decent French
people, and that war neuritis accounted
sor the intolerant and aggressive atti-
tude But the time has gone by for
pretending that the French Govern
ment under Poincare is amenable to
persuasion OF HlOucrdtiOH
France Determined.
Men now in power in France are
determined at all costs to thwart the
British policy, which is based upon
fair treatment to Germany and gen.
erous treatment to Russia for the sake
of peace and economic recovery. They
have made their plans deliberately to
cripple Germany. AS soon as Ger
many defaults in her payments as she
Is bound to do within twelve months
ut the longest delay and perhaps much
sooner. France. wishing her TO default,
will seize all her industrial cities along
the Rhine and control her economic
life in an absolute strangle hold.
Military plans for the invasion OF
the Ruhr have been made down to the
last comma. France will act alone II
Great Britain refuses TO join her and
will regard as an unfriendly act
which means war-any attempt to
thwart her. Belgium will act with
France, just as France has associated
herself with Belgium in refusing to
come to terms with Russia. That is n
very serious situation. and everybody
or war for the sake OF the lives and
bodies Of future youth must decide In
ais own soul or hers whether France
Is justified or not and whether Lloyd
George or Poincare should be sup
ported by the moral verdict Of the
world.
logically, no doubt, France is
yssnt. Germany promised to pay her
deots. III she cannot pay she ought
to be punished. France ought not to
relinquish her just claims for repara-
ton.
Logic Not Everything.
But logic would reduce the whole
world to ruin. just as De valera's logic
Is reducing. Ireland 10 ruin. Great
statesmanship and great leadership.
Ia say nothing Of Christian charity or