San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-09-23
Face Value Of Agreement
Represents Victory for
Poincare.
HAILED AS SURRENDER
Lloyd George May Get An
other Chance Because
of Shortage.
Ry A. q. GARDINER.

ny n. ". UthDl4NGhs
Copyright. by The San Antonio Light.
London Sept. %. - The COM
munique which was issued following
Premier Baldwin's interview with
Premier Poincare, in which the pub
lie was assured that common agree
ment had been reached and that no
difference of purpose or divergence
of principle exists between them, has
aroused much surprise in England.
Is this communiQue the usual Of
fetal make-believe. or has Mr.. Bald
win eaten his own words at NJ. Poin-
cares luncheon table? ,
If the statement is to be accepted
At its face value, it represents a
final triumph for NJ. Poincare and
the most public and complete humilla-
ton of British craftsmanship IN the
memory of anyone now living.
Lord Curzon's great Indictment OF
the French policy is still fresh IN the
public mind.
No more devastating criticism OF
the proceedings of one great power
was ever made by another.
If left no visible point OF agree
ment between the two countries, and
eliminated in the declaration that
the whole Ruhr invasion was illegal.
Premier Poincare's reply widened
the breach and every succeeding Sun
day his speeches have grown more
harsh and unyielding.
3 Meanwhile, the collapse OF Ger
many, under pressure of the policy
which the British government declar-
ed illegal, has proceeded with gather
ing momentum and everyone believes
the end is near.
In these circumstances, Premier
Baldwin's plan to visit Mr.. Poincare
aroused some criticism. but the gen.
eral view prevailed that he was to
make a courtesy call only.
Hailed As Surrender.
The statement of the results OF the
interview has been hailed by the
Paris press as a complete surrender
of the British premier and a resora-
ton Of the entente on the basis OF
acceptance by England of the "fait
accompli."
The writer prefers to await further
developments before accepting this
reading of events.
All depends upon the real charac-
ter of Premier Baldwin which is still
unknown to the public.
/. He had scarcely been heard OF until
after the fall Of the Lloyd-Georgc
coalition government.
) Everyone agrees that he is an
amiable and an honest man, but no
one knows whether he is q strong
man
His hostility to Premier Poincare
is notorious and IL it is true that
he has walked info the latter's par
lor and offered unconditional sur
render. he will go to swell the list OF
discredited politicians who swarm
about Westminster.
Still it is almost TO say that aside
from Mr.. Baldwin, there is no states
man in any party who now commands
the public confidence or creates q
ripple of public interest.
Cecil Has No Party.
lord Robert Cecil perhaps arouses
the highest degree of respect on ac-
count of his high character and pure
and enlightened motives, but he is
without party following.
Ii IIchltEs DdiuNlH pEoNts n man
Of straw, it is difficult to see who
will succeed him.
The feeling prevails that the bank.
ruptcy in craftsmanship may even
give David Lloyd-George another
chance.
His stock is very low and nothing
he has done since his fall has tended
to raise it.
But his wits are so keen and his
electioneering genius is so incompar.
able that more unlikely things thar
his revival can be thought Of.
Anything may happen in the pres.
ent stagnation of craftsmanship and
bankruptcy in leadership.
In the meantime another phase oi
the international situation is assum
ing Importance.
British trade, depressed by the
failure of the export market is nov
alarmed by losses in the home mar
kets.
The attack comes chiefly from
France where low exchange enables
manufacturers to undersell thei
British rivals in England.
The Nottingham lace trade ant
the Yorkshire wooden trade hav,
been especially hard hit by imports
from Lyons and Roubaix.
The coming imperial conference j
expected to be chiefly occupied will
consideration of trade protection anC
mutual preference.