The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-14

Tn Its dNOWcd object, but would throw the European continent into d chaos which would block post reconstruction and would play havoc with the trade of the World-es- pecially of England.
 O O o
 More Ominous Currents. But beneath these idvergencie e 8
 were conflicting currents of a deeper and more ominous significance. A | bitter duel for the postwar suprem | acy of Europe was underway, With | Germany removed as competitor for European power, England and France began their jockeying for paramount power.
 England looked across the channel | and pictured France, with an army that made her unchallengeab in dn attempt to establish political and economic hegemony on the continent of Eurore English liberals became Suspicious of French motives in the | Ruhr The charge was openly made that France had set about to dis member Germany
 France. in turn. blamed England with trying to isolate France and to prevent her from obtaining just pay ment from Germany.
 Three British premieFs, Lloyd George. Bonar Law and Baldwin, tried unsuccessfully to reach an agreement with Poincare.
 Long before the impasse in the Ruhr, however. British and French policies had split in practically ev- cry other scene of European contro- versy. In the Near East the two rat,ons were directly opposed in their Turkish policies. In Morocco they came to loggerh eads over the disposition of Tangier. Open quar- rels broke out in the League of Ma tions over the Saar valbey and other A ments were hopelessly divided on ev- cry topic. At the Washington con ference Anglo French antagonism expressed itself in the question of submarines.
 Note Writing Fruitlesx.
 Note writing under the Bpnar Law and Baldwin governments proved as fruitless as the conference program of Lloyd George.
 It became obvious everywhere ex- cept in the polite utterances of of ficialdom that the entente was on the rocks. One breach followed an other, but hopeless attenaEs were made to patch up the ruptlEres in an effort to save the wreckaGe.
 Finally, entente differences ex- pressed themselves in open compe- tition for armament supremacy. In the face of overwhelming French sn- periority in the air, England decided slr@ could no longer remain indiffer- ent ana the government announced a program of aerial constrmction de- signed to place the home. defense forces of England on level with the attacking strength of any other country.
 Five years after the armistice all the characteristics of rivalry which arlled the wears prior to 1914. has begun to return to Europe. New aliGnments were formed among the nations, armaments were strength ened and the chancelleries of Europe began to edge themselves into posi- tions of tactical vantage,
 Never Permit Domination.
 History demonstrates that Great Britain has never permitted a single power to dominate Europe. Her de- feat of the Spansh armada, her fight against Napoleon and her interVen- tion on the side of France against Germany in the late war are but few examples of this never changing fact in British foreign policy.
 If England becomes officially con- Vinced that France today is seeking the domination of Europe, as many Of Frances critics unofficially charge, then the entente, already battered and bruised beyond recog- nition will he definitely consigned to it's grave. The alliance, which be- gan in 1904-tradition has it that King Edward VII initiated the en- champs--wiI have passed into the oblivion that sooner or later awaits all alliances.
 England and France, then, will be. aligned against each other in a state of open and dangerous hostility.