Evening star., 1922-09-24
BRITISH PREMIER
BLAMED IN CRISIS
Editor Gardiner Declares
Lloyd George Has Aided
French Ambitions.
URGES A new CABINET
England's Affairs Must Be in
More Responsible Hands,
He Says.
BY A. G. GARDINER.
Britain's Foremost Liberal Editor.


BY Gable Dispatch to The Star.
LONDON. September 23.-The latest
eruption of the European volcano is
a superlative Illustration OF the levity
of the Lloyd George method. When
we are right his political juggling
puts us in wrong. The triumph OF
the Turks over the Greeks inevitably
precipitated a grave conflict between
French and British policies.
1t is notorious that France and
Italy had backed the Turks morally
and materially, while England en-
couraged the Greeks. The victory of
kemal openly is hailed in France as
a victory over England. The situa-
tion brought France and England TO
the brink of a momentous decision.
France only has to stand aside TO
leave England alone to cope with
Kemals claim for possession of the
Dardanelles and Constantinople. and
in conflict with the whole Mohamme-
dan world.
French popular opinion favored this
course, but. fortunately, other con-
sideIations intervened. France is the
patron OF the little entente. and the
little entente is terrified over the
prospect of the return of the Turk
to Europe. Moreover, French inter
ests in Asia Minor are great. and
they are threatened by too triumph
ant rehabilitation of the Turk.
A Cabinet Dilemma.
Such considerations have modified
the French policy. and at the end of
last week it seemed that joint action
between England and France to main
tain the naturalization of the Darda-
nelles and Constantinople was immi-
nent. In the midst of the delicate
negotiations Lloyd George flung a
bomb in the shape of sensational
manifesto that the empire was ready
to defend the fruits of the war
against attack. Why was this is
sued? 1t was personal act of
George, probably supported by Win
ston Churchill. Was. it an attempt.
to stampede France?i If SO. it was
fatal act in policy. as 1T gave France
precisely the excuse she wanted to
adopt an attitude of benevolent neu-
trality. Was 1T domestic political
move. designed to recover lost per-
sonal prestige? Was it sheer ire
sponsibility?
No one accepts the view that the
entire cabinet authorized the action
The foreign minister was not re-
familiar dilemma, either II can resign
or accept the position and try to
clear it cup.
If the premier expected great
popular response to his manifesto. he
was profoundly mistaken. The pub
lie reception of the suggestion of a
new war is universally hostile. Even
the Northcliffe press is placarding
the streets with:
stop the new war"
The labor conference declared:
Not a man; not gun"
Every section has denounced the
levity and recklessness Of Lloyd
Georges proceedings. The chief
mischief of the incident is that it
misrepresents the attitude of the peo-
pie. No one wants war, but no one
wants the Turk back in Europe. For
been the curse of Europe. The one
practical achievement of the war
seemed to be the final overthrow of
the Ottoman tyranny. If that tyranny
was to be re-established under the
protection of the most formidable
military power on the continent. the
situation would not be better than
before the war, but infinitely worse.
1t would permanently embarrass
French relations and obliterate
all hope for the restoration of Eu-
rope on the basis of the league of
nations.
British Ministry Attacked.
This danger can be avoided only by
preserving the common action OF the
allies. The George manifesto i'm
periled this as a declaration of
French Indifference to the issue would
be equivalent to an invita- tfon to the
Turks to. proceed and the removal of
French troops from Chenak Is an
ominous indication of the state of
mind. In Paris.
At best the episode has enormously
enhanced the bargaining power of
Poincare. in the, diplomatic struggle
with England. Turkey is only one
phase Of the issue which involves the
whole European problem and es
the fate of Germany. On this
the interests and outlook OF England
and France are dtametrically opposed
and the disastrous developments in
Asia Minor give French diplomacy a
strong hand in pressing for its own
plan OF extremist action.
Incidentally the affair has reacted
seriously, on Lloyd, Georges position
in the country. There is growing
Of weighty matters and his
world problems from the point Of
view of political strategy. His stock
with all parties stands at the lowest
point since the war and the suspicion
that this latest demonstration, was
governed by electoral considerations
widely. The conviction is
growing that the oil can is not the
best means of putting out the fire
raging in Europe and that before an
English policy OF peace can be
pressed successfully against q, French
policy of milltarlsm England's affairs
ha onfrnofoS IN rpoYo oSnnu