The Washington herald., 1922-05-08
INDEMNITIES ROOT
OF BIG PROBLEMS,
DECLARES GIBBS
Says Reasonable Means
Of German Payment
Must Be Devised.
ANSWER MOST VITAL
Ignored at Genoa, Question
Will Have to Be Faced at
Some Other Time.
By SIR PHILIP GIBBS.


LONDON. May THE Genoa
conference still dominates and in
terests all people who look beyond
their front parlor to the great world
with its passionate problems. and
who understand even a little the
tremendous drama of current his
tory. To my mind there emerge very
clearly from all recent crises Of this
conference certain vital issues upon
which European civilization is
staked.
Is it possible for Europe TO ar
range any pact of peace which shall
be more than a breathing space be-
fore another international conflict?
Is II humanity probable that Germany
will abandon all hopes OF revenge
against France and accept for all
time the penalties imposed on her
by the treaty of Versailles? Will
France under Poincare take violent
action against Germany alone IL
need be to enforce payments which
will make Germany bankrupt. or
will France modify her claims in
order to secure allied support
Above all. is the German Russian
treaty a future threat to European
peace?
Questions Must BE Answered.
These are questions that must be
answered at Genoa or afterwards.
They cannot be thrust into the back
ground of diplomacy like the policy
Of the ostrich. Indeed. they have
appeared like skeletons at the
feast, rattling their bones. Lloyd
Georges proposal for a general pact
of peace cannot have any reality, ac-
cepted or unaccepted. until those
problems have been discussed and
solved. ~
The first fatal blunder of the con-
ference in my judgment was the de.
decision. forced by France. TO leave
out all reference to German indem.
mites. That is at the root of al
economic and political problems in
Europe. Some better and more
reasonable way of payment from
Germany must be devised before
there can be any pact OF peace
All the evidence shows that Ger
many cannot continue to pay OF
the present scale without financial
collapse and reputation, in which
case France assuredly will use hel
military strength. unless restrained
by her allies. and even despite their
restraint.
Would Make Use of Russia.
In that case Germany will use Rus
sia as her drill ground and arsenal
for future vengeance and escape
That would be an inevitable menace
which would keep the nerves of Eu.
rope on edge until another crash
came. So Lloyd Georges pact OF
peace. glorious as II is in Imagination
would be but a sham truce IL it con.
tanned such high explosives as the
French claim to advance into Ger.
many in the event OF her default.
The second blunder at Genoa wa.
the method dealing with the Russian
delegates. Agreement was possibl,
upon the Russian problem between
Germany and Great Britain. with
France IL she liked to Join. long be.
fore the Genoa conference began
Owing to home politics in England
and France, the chance was missed
of confronting Russia with al
agreed ultimatum with severe con
ditions in return for economic aid
conditions which would have salts
fed public opinion.
Russians Assume Dictation.
AS it is, the Russian delegate:
have assumed the dictation OF tn,
conference, have argued every poin'
with Oriental casuistry and slipped
in with their German treaty, which
I split the conference as though by .
sharp sword. i see an intense per
sonal drama here as well as a pcliti,
cal problem. Lloyd George, sur
rounded by faithful followers whit
know his career is at stake on fail
ure or success, was furious with
anger when that treaty was re
vealed. 1t was not the terms Of tn,
treaty which were most harmful. bu
Germany's separate and individual
Continued On Pace Three.