Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-09-19
DANGER Of BREAK
BETWEEN ENGLAND
AND FRANCE SEEN
BY A. G. GARDINER

AONDOIN, 0SpL. Liz SFOhIS "a
the European drama shift with the
suddenness Of the scenes Of film
play. But, however. they shift they
turn upon the relations between
England and France. Wherever one
looks today, to Russia, to Germany,
to the Bolkans, he finds the two
countries opposed. For the moment
Germany is out of the picture.
The Greek catastrophe in Asia
Minor has revealed the farming
possibility Of a new rupture. I'm
doubtedly Lloyd Georges thought
less words encouraged the Greeks 70
suppose Great Britain would sup
port them. On the other hand
France has assumed the Gs: man
role of the friend Of the Turk. &
mails triumph is VIGOROUSLY due to
a large supply of French war ma
terials and the astonishing outhurst
Ct French enthusiasm over the af-
fair was an undisguised dcmonstra-
ton of anti-English feeling.
What follows2 The Turks, flush
ed with victory and experts at the
old game Of playing off one Ci-lis-
tian nation against another, TN at
closing the Dardanelles. This was
the only solid achievement of the
treaty OF SERVES. The strait can
only be kept open through the unit
ed action Of England and france. II
French popular passion against Eng
land prevails, and France leaves the
Turk free hand, grave situation,
involving Mesopotamia and India
confronts England.
A Turkish revival also ultimately
threatens French interests in Syria
and elsewhere, but in the present in
flammable atmosphere of Paris,
where every music hall rings with
the grossest insults, Englands' posi-
ton is full of peril. At best the
gravity Of the Turkish situation puts
powerful cards in the hands OF
France. She can say:
do this or we leave the Turks
q free hand"
In the circumstances the visit Of
Lloyd George to assembly of the
league Of nations assumes increased
importance. It will>be the first time
the executive head of a great state
acknowledges the authority of the
assembly by his presence. It is most
significant because Of the comment
on the dissolution of the supreme
council. It can transfer its power
to the league. But can the trans
fer be made in the present position
of France?
The league attitude and the mill
taritstic position of France hardly
can be reconciled. The situation is
recalled by the remark of General
SHUTS to me prior to my interview
with President Wilson during the
peace conference:
"TeIl the president" he said, "the
establishment Of the league depends
upon America. England cannot car
ry the project alone in the face Of
hostilities. If America returns to
her isolation. England also will be
driven to such a policy and the
continent will be left to drift to
shipwreck."
Efforts to have the league live
without America continues. But
while the league excludes great
powers it is doomed to be largely an
academic body. Its, existence de-
ponds on external storms over which
it has no control. The fate of the
league is with France. The attitude OF
her representatives at Geneva is mot
ulhopeful, but it is useless to ignore
the fact that the main current OF
the French opinion is one Of negation
to the aims of the combination.
Will Lloyd Georges Intervention
I1AIr h "a non,
ul..r person in France, today he is
the most reviled In mailing his col.
ors to the league mast he issues an
invitation which may be chal
lerge. It may make or break the
league. He realizes the enormous
disaster that has followed the poll
cies of the last four years and is anx
ious to reverse the engine. But is
he the man for the task?
Unfortunately he is so discredited
by events that I fear he is unequal
TO carrying Ahrpugh so vast an op
Grafton. Euror,e wants new men to
salvage the wreck the old men have
made. She wants new men, with
new ideas and new spirit. But
where will we look for such lead
ership? War and peace has de
strcyed every reputation. Europe
seems a voiceless bankrupt of states
manship, a derelect without cap
tain.
Only today it is being realized
what an enormous disaster the muir
der of the French Socialist leader
Jaures, in 1914 inflicted in Europe
That tragedy is comparable with the
Staying Of Michael Collins in Ireland
where no commanding figure is left
The meeting of the dali brought ou
strongly the deficiency. If parlia
rnentary government and the treaty
are to survive III Ireland, the rebe
movement must be vigorously sup
pressed. While De Valera is fre'
and issues his ultimatums anarch!
will continue which will bring ruiz
to Ireland and disaster to the Fro