Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-07-15
BRITAIN SEEN FAR
FROM PARIS Terms
Ruhr Compromise Difficult,
With Lines More Sharp
Iy Drawn.
by A. G. GARDINER,
Britain's Greatest Liberal Editor.

By Gable to The Star.
LONDON, July 14-It Is difficult to
conceive that France will accept any
reply drawn up by Prime Minister
Baldwin in the spirit of the terms of
his reparations speech this week.
Such a reply must deal with a pro-
posal for an expert commission to fix
PREPARATIONS that Germany would be
able to pay. France is bitterly hos
tile to any such plan. while England
is favorable to It. What prospect Is
there for a compromise with the issue
so sharply defined? What prospect Is
there that Premier Poincare VIII
agree to any scheme which ultimately
involves the withdrawal OF French
troops from the Ruhr? This Is re-
garded as the acid test of any real
agreement.
The door to practical results is stin
open, but few persons In England
have any hope that Poincare will
enter 1t. The French premier is
conscious that he holds two strong
cards. He has established Frances
military dominance on the continent
of Europe beyond its widest dreams
and while II Is destroying Germany.
1t is also bleeding English trade
Two million people are expected to
h. without employment in England
this winter. France has no unemploy-
cd. NJ. POincare exploits TINS unem-
ployment menace to British existence
as an argument to compel his country
10 indorse war to the dtath WITH
Germany. NJ. Baldwin knows that
the situation cannot he saved that
way. He is determined to get Europe
out of the road TO ruin at whatever
cost In this aim he represents the
overw helming mind OF the country.
Apart from the Morning Post and
The Daily Mail. which con niue their
srenzfed appeal to the government
TO back France. the country mas maze
UP It's mind to have peace in europe
| and IL Poincare persists In his war
policy a rupture is inevitable.
The gravity of the outlook Is fully
realized. The public Is aware at last
case on French military. power and
Earl Grey's speech in the house OF
| lords this week in relation to the new
competition in ornaments mas Gre
ated a profound impression.
Lord Grey has been Frances best
friend against Germany in the past
and France owes more to him tnan
to any man in Europe. VIII she listen
to his grave warning or Is Sne re-
solved to plunge Europe in flames
orce more? The next few days Will
show. In the meantime Germany falls
visibIy from precipice to precipice.
Has America no word to say on this
gigantic tragedy?
Crisis Stage Nearer.
Mr.. Baldwin's speech simply brings
the Anglo French crisis a stage fur
Their along. 1t is generally regarded
as a wise and statesmanlike attempt
to save Europe from the final dis
aster of an open breach between
Britain and France. His address was
moderate in tone. but firm in purpose.
1t ignored NJ. Poincare's .unyielding
attitude and announced Great Brit
aims intention to draw up its own
reply to the German proposals and
, submit them to France, in the hope
Of reaching an agreement.
Is this simply delaying the evil day
of rupture? Or Is there a scintilla of
hope that NJ. Poincare is becoming
reasonable? The writer Is bound to
say that the general impression in
England lie without cheer.
The attitude of Nj. Poincare through
out the five-week negotiations has
been absolutely relentless. He has
got Germany by the jugular vein,
and apparently he does not mean to
let &c, reVarations or no reparations