Evening star., 1923-02-20

tCOnt1nued from First page.)
but that opposition apparently could
accomplish little or nothing. mas
much as the pride Of France in fore
ing the Germans to terms had been
aroused. He pointed out that France
already had refused to look kindly on
Intervention by the league, and sug-
gested that she would hardly be
amenable to such step now.
Mr.. Lloyd George. whose sojourn "in
the wilderness" has resulted in no
Impairment Of his. parliamentary
action was both shortsighted, unfor-
tunate and unwarranted. and that the
way was open to disaster. He assert
ed that the collection of reparations
France had in view.
Declares U. 8. Responsible.
Arguing for the motion. the former
prime minister said he was asking
Mr.. Bonar Law to act Immediately.
United States. a step calculated to
save the situation Wealthy Amer
lea, he declared, still had q share in
the responsibility for present condi-
cd the entire situation. Mr.. Lloyd
George expressed the opinion that
France, confronted by the United
States and Great Britain. could not
fail to listen to nations that had put
her In the position of a conqueror. He
entreated the government to take the
Initiative. first by approaching the
United States. and then, with that
country. approaching France.
Although the sentiments embodied
IN the joint amendment Undoubtedly
were approved by a majority of the
house, It's passage would have repre :
sented censure of the government and
would. therefore, have meant the gov
ernment's fail.
Fisher Opens Debate.
IL. AZ L. Fisher. liberal member for
English universities. who was presi
Dent of the board Of education in the
Lloyd George cabinet. in opening de-
bate considered the cooperation OF
America so all-impcrtant that IL
American participation could not be
obtained otherwise she should be per-
mitted to send delegates independent.
ly of the league.
Lord Robert Cecil, on the other
hano, while not minimizing the i'm
portance of American help, thought
that formal invitation to Washing
ION would entail grave danger of re-
buffng America and might cause
washington to restate that government 8
opinion that Europe must first com
pose her own quarrels. Lord Robert.
IKE otner speakers. emphasized the
urgency of avoiding q breach with
FRANCE. but regarded the idea of a
world conference to revise the treaty
or versailles from top to bottom as
an impossible policy.
MT Lloyd George, displaying all his
Ola mastery of apt phrase, took the
line that the momentum of French
action in the Ruhr had developed be-
Eond anything the French govern
,hent ever conceived, and that 1t was
tne business OF England and America
10 extricate France from an impos-
siole and dangerous position. He re-
pudiated any idea of censurine or
criicizing the Bonar Law govern
ment. WHICH had done its best as q
Every creditor had to choose be-
tween cash and smash. he declared.
france was trying both, but she must
decide upon one or the other. The
french action was ill-conceived. be-
,raying lack Of vision. He refused
70 pelieve that any military adviser
or France had ever committed him
SELF to the opinion that France ought
to seize the Ruhr.
me Ruhr was an open salient, with
out natural frontiers and with a hos
tile population. France was giving
hostages to possible enemy, which
lnisnt invite disaster in a military
Sees French Disaster.
In brief. Mr.. Lloyd George consid-
cred the French government COM
mitted to policy Of irretrievable
disaster. There had been nothing in
the reparations problem which. in
mis- opinion, demanded such a violent
step, and the disquieting feature was
that there must be some reason be-
yond reparations, since clearly rep
arations was not the object In view,
1t would be very dindcult for France
now to retrace her steps while the
pride Of both countries was engaged.
The pride of France and Germany
had been aroused: these countries
stood In q position of cleaning de-
hance.
Arguing that revolution in Ger
many would be greater danger for
France. Great Britain and Europe
than militarism In Germany, and
that the French action was q repe-
titfon OF Germans blunder in 1914,
the former premier said he was only
entreating Premier Bonar Law to
take . further step, and take it now.
He did not believe that Great Brit.