The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-07-03

the British prime minister was
rushing matters and undertaking to
do altogether too much at once. On
the other hand the Little Entente,
while II sided with France in many
other matters, stood against ex-
IRENE French demands upon Russia
and the treatment of Russia as an
outcast. Its influence, therefore,
was thrown in the balance for The
Hague Conference. chiefly in order
to prevent a complete break be-
tween Russia and the rest of the
world.
Such a complete break. hasten
to point out. carried for Poland and
Rumania the menace of an immed-
late Bolshevist Eruption on their
frontiers and for Czecho-Slovakia a
very disagreeable crisis at home.
where Russia has very ardent sup
porters.
The real break between Lloyd
George and the Little Entente. how
ever. came not over Russia primar-
lily. but over the British prime min
ister's whole continental policy. IL
one is to understood contemporary
European history at all. IL is neces-
sary before all else to appreciate
this continental reaction to recent
British proposals. There one will
find the explanation of why Britain
and not France was substantially
isolated at Genoa. save as the Ital-
ians and Germans for obvious rea-
sons took British positions from
time to time, while their actions
were in accord with a totally diff
ferent conception.
Benes Identifies the first current
as French and the second as Brit
ish. he then proceeds to demonstrate
why at Genoa, the Czecho-Slovak
and little entente course fell in with
the French largely. But II must
be appreciated that in the last para
graph ] have quoted one can read
much between the lines. Lloyd
George has been won to the Keynes
conception Of peace. He is COM
mitted to the idea of the revision
of the treaties of Paris, not merely
as to reparations but as to terri
tories as well. Keynes, himself was
the first prepayment OF the spheres
of economic interest which Benes
mentions. and Keynes assigned most
of Central Europe to the German
sphere.
Discussed Necessity.
At Genoa. Lloyd George openly
discussed the necessity to change
Polish frontiers and to raise the
question of Rumanian possession in
Bessarabia. His supporters have
constantly discussed the question Of
the German minorities in Czecho-
Slovakia, while Italy. the British
partner. has been at work for years
in seeking to block Juso-Slav unity
on the Adriatic by raising the Mon
tenegrin. Croatian and Slovenian
questions.
Now the little entente and Poland
are against the revision a. the
Paris treaties. They are all opposed
to the Keynes idea of economic
spheres. they resent the constant
emphasis of the matter OF minori-
ties and they are not prepared to
disarm while Russia remains a peril
and Hungary and Bulgaria. together
with Germany. openly declare their
purpose to change the conditions
OF Central Europe created by the
war.
France and Belgium, in the west
of Europe. stand on exactly the
same ground. Both acquired terri
tory from Germany, which, to be
sure. belonged rightfully to them,
that land by force some day. For
France and for Belgium. as for Po-
land, Czecho-Slovakia, Jugo- Slavis
and Rumania, the preservation of
the frontiers created at Paris and
a. 10 81
There Is just as much enthusia SIN
In these countries for a Lewiston
Of recent treaties as there is in
the United States for the revision
OF the treaty with Mexico which
gave us California and our other
southwestern States.
Now at Paris and since Paris the
smaller Succession States" pres
entity united in the Little Entente
were treated much as the Balkan
states had been treated, their
frontiers were arranged with small
regard for their rights or inter-
ests and an effort was made to
establish the right of the great
powers to interfere in their
domestic affairs. While Britain.
France and the United States
worked together in Paris. the little
states were powerless.
But with the withdrawal of the
United States and the development
OF rfvalries between France and
Great Britain, supported by Italy.
the authority of the great powers
mas been lost and the small states.
craving together have been able
70 exercise Increasing influence by
taxing advantage of the divisions
OF the great. Thus at Genoa they
supported the French policy which
aimed at preventing a revision OF
the Paris settlements and made
al such revision impossible.
Isolation Escaped.
French policy has very frankly
set out to win the support of the
Little Entente and lit has been
measurably successful, thus France
mas escaped isolation and post
poned IL not prevented any atternnt