Evening star., 1922-12-17
ENCLANDMAyCUT
TIES WITH FRANCE
"Suffering as Result of Policy
That Seeks German De-
Structi0n."
EX-ALlIES. NOW RIVALS
Delay of Peace Makes Less Eradi.
cable the Unfriendliness.
Says Gardiner.
Ex-ALLIES. NOW RIVALS
BY A. G.. GARDINER.
Brftafn'S Greatest Liberal Editor.

Britafn'S Greatest Liberal Editor
Special Cable to The Star.
LONDON, December 1s.-There no
longer is any doubt that the situa-
tion between England and France
has reached a critical stage. With
the recent change in the English
government. Premier Poincare o.
France probably looked for a more
favorable atmosphere for his sch"ih"
on the continent. but he has suffered
disillusion.
The notorious London conference
just ended revealed France and Eng
land in decisive antagonism On the
central issue of the conference. 1t Is
true there was a unanimous decision
to reject the German proposals. But
il is equally true that England waS
ready to accept these proposals ana
finally agreed To reject them only a.
means of preventing an open rur-
turc. Had "A rupture occurred, the
Forthcoming BRUSSELS corfcr"n'"
would have been torpedoed IN dG-
vance and France and England ""uld
have been left in undissuised antas"-
nism.
TO decide whether the breach in Al
lied .solicy is openly TO be declared
and become final. The issue now
has plainly narrowed down TO me
question as TO whether Germany -
to be politically and economically De.
stroypd or helped TO recover anu
brought back into the European sNs-
TEN.
Poincare's policy frankly is for fhr
destruction of Germany. The er"uiih
for this poiicy is the French fear -
the revival of Germany, with the NJ
innate power and will for r"v"ng"
This fear is aggra waited by the sense
that four years of merciless frea
ment of Germany has deepened tn
spirit of revenge beyond the Rhin'
The longer the failure To eS'ahlish
peace continues the more lherad''a
Bile that spirit becomes.
Birth Rate Contrast.
further cause of the CALI i"ai
of. Germany is the tremendous iari
of the continued decline in th'
French birth rate. Six German chI
dren are being born to one freh'''
child. Hence the French refusal l"
disarm, since the policy OF arnihE
Africans means the holding OF Ger
many in sub3ection. Here you haN"
the French determination to com
plete the destruction of Germany IA
the only means for the future securi-
ty of France.
This explains the failure of the
London conference and Poincares re-
lection of the German offer; also the
. demand that France take possession
of the Ruhr. 1t is universally agre.h
here that no offer Germany can mak',
will he acceptable to France. anu
that Poincare's heart is set upon tn
occupat of the Ruhr valley as th"
vital essential TO permanent over
IordSbin over GERMANY.
Against this policy the whole spirit
and opinion of the English people IL
mobilized. Even Earl Grey. Frances
most friendly advocate. realizes the
moment has come for plain speak ing
This week in the house of lords he
accused the French of breaking up
the bankers conference in Paris.
which was the last really hopeful
, move toward peace. He demands
that there shall be peace with Ger
many and the inclusion of that coun-
try in the league of nations AS the
, only means of saving European civ
i ilization.
All of this represents the growing
ferment of the public. II is plain 1"
i every mind that the destruction OF
Germany means the destruction "f
England. The paralysis of English
industry Wit, its consequences nf
hosts of unemployed is growing
menace to the very existence of the
country. Furthermore. it is recoG-
nized that this paralysis is the direct
result of French policy. While that
policy continues England will con
tinue to perish.
None Yield to Poincarc.
In the presence of this uhdisputabl.,
fact no English government will dar..
yield to Poincare. Such a course would
be "A death sentence to British indus
try and English life.
Here. then. is the impossible gulf
between France and England Franc"
believes she can only live 10y destroy
ing Germany. England knows shr
can only live by restoring Germany
and through Germany restoring th'
whole fabric of European society.
! Which is to prevail" If Poincare will
| not yield. if France goes into th+
Ruhr. then the rupture will be final
and irrevocable. Tho two countries
inevitably will drift farther and far
/! ther apart. To what fate? That MAY
be left to the imagination. viii Poin
care incur that terrific responsibility
1t rests with him. England has reach
ed the end of her tether. No chang. in
government can affect our position.
This nation wants peace and a re-
stored Europe. 1t wants trade and IL
sick of endless conferences that only
reveal France standing obstinately in
the path of all these things.
England believes that a rcconcIlia-
ton between France and Germany Is
still possible. 1t believes that French
security can he effected, not through
bringing black armies to France, hut
by giving France the guarantees Of a
real league of nations.
We are prepared to pay any price 10
achieve this end. The English people
have taxed themselves almost to the
limit of extinction already and are
prepared 10 continue the burden. but
only on the one condition that France
will let Europe get on lis feet and
| live and breathe again.