Evening star., 1923-01-07
BRITAIN FIRMLY
BACKING PREMIER
Stand Taken at Paris Meets
Nations Approval, Though
All Take Sober View.
SEE WORSE CONDITIONS
Judges of European Affairs Fear
Consequences of Poincare's
Proposed Ruhr Invasion.

LONDON, January 6.-The British
take an extremely sober view of the
events Of the past week which have cuI-
minated in the decision of the premiers
to agree to disagree over the settlement
of German reparations.
Bonar Law has the backing of the
country in this matter to degree never
reached by Lloyd George at any stage
Of the latter's long premiership, and to-
day hardly a word Of regret is heard in
regard to the stand taken by the prime
minister at Paris, although the public
realizes to the full the gravity Of the
situation.
See Worse Conditions.
Nobody here believes that Premier
Polncare will succeed in his professed
project of Ruhr exploitation. On the
contrary, most keen judges of European
affairs are convinced that six months
hence. the continent will be in an in
nnitely worse position than it is at
present.
There is a feeling here that Poin-
care has right TO go into Germany
Tor the money and material to which
he believes France Is entitled. but
sentiment will switch quickly the mo-
ment 1t becomes apparent that the
French policy is re-acting against
1HsiaHo ana otner nations profoundly
! interested. but now holding aloof.
Most Britons associate themselves
with the premiers statement to Poin-
care to the effect that he hoped the
French governments plan would
prove successful. but in their hearts
they feel that il will lead only to
chaos, and consequently they are ex
tremely sobered.
Financiers See Danger.
One of the labor papers SAYS that
| this British French parting Is a case
OF comm ercfaiisn vs. militarisn; but
II his argument held. 1t would be to
Britain,s advantage to adopt a differ
ent attitude from the one Bonar Law
assumed at Paris. Fundamentally X is
perfectly true that Great Britain s
policy is based upon a desire for re-
Hival of trade. with a corresponding
reduction in taxes and unemployment; !;
but the British policy does not ignore
the important political issues that are
involved
The steady depreciation OF the
French. Belgian and German ex-
changes Is Indicative Of the views Of
financiers as to the value of French
penetration of the Ruhr. If the Brit
ish policy were wrong and the
French right, it would be natural to
expect depreciation of the pound and
/ rise of the franc. but the opposite is
the thing that has taken place.
If the Frepch army moves into
Westphalia the British forsee many
difficulties which were not encounter
ed when the allies advanced into the
occupied areas.
Answer May BE In Future.
The charge that Poincare's real OBJ
ject Is to destroy industrial Germany
! Is made by scores of writers. but the
view, although they admit that If the
French policy is pushed far enough
ruin OF Industrial Germany must be
+, the inevitable consequence. The real
answer to the advance may be forth
coming years hence-a fact which is
emphasized by some of Frances
!! warmest friends here. who. indeed.
are the ones taking the gloomiest
view of the future.
These people foresee within d COM
paratively short time the formation
of new blocs which three years ago
would have been regarded as prepos-
terous- The breaking of the entente
Is much easier than its making, or
even it's repair can be. Those in the
best position to judge, say that the
Britain still exists. but public
opinion is the, court of last resort.
Looking to West.
Britons are still looking to the west
for the magician who can put Europe
! in order. One day there seems rea-
son to expect the miracle, the next
the patient seems doomed. The most
satisfactory development of recent
months has been the Improvement in
Anglo-American relations that has
come through better understanding.
A satisfactory settlement of the
questions involved in the payment of
Britain's debt to the United States
will go far toward a solution of many
European problems.
1t was the hope of the British au-
thorities that world reorganization
would start with an allied settlement,
but now the hope is that the founda-
ton will be laid at Washington.
The moral as well as the material
strength of America are again being
felt in Europe.