, 1923-09-30

~ - ~ NhOitIlhAs VI L.
Copyright by United Press, 1921
LONDON. Sept. 29.-CUnited
Press)5The British note to France
and Belgium OF August shows that
n new chapter has been opened in
the diplomatic history OF Europe.
The era OF diplomatic opposition
has now succeeded tho interrcgnum
of Mr.. Bonar Laws benevolent
neutrality which followed the fatal
period Of active diplomatic acqules.
cence in French action characters.
tic Of the coalition administration.
1t is the inevitable reaction against
the consequences Of the LLOYD
George-C iemenceau partnership in
producing the so-callod Treaty" OF
versailles, supplemented in the en-.
suing by the decisions of in.
Vulnerable conferences and the
Paris and London ultimate.
Mr.. Baldwin has moved forward
the first pawn.
The note Of August II is the ini.
tihl step In what will be the long
difficult and dangerous process of
endeavorlng to undo the whole dis.
astrous policy to which. in the in.
toxication OF victory. with that pas.
sion for power which consumes
pledges and silences conscience
with the facile opportunism which
sometimes passes for statesmanship
Mr.. Lloyd George committed this
country in the spring OF 1919.
A hnn1aRRrs, --,....n W -
a~ssuredly containing less Of peril
than a cowardly remuneration TO
shoulder responsibilities which are
incumbent upon this country as n
member of the European body.
which r partly self.crentod and
which We cannot repudlate II we
would. II you lend a hand in put.
ting out a fire there is always n
chance OF being injured, But II YOU
stand aside and allow the flames TO
spread, there is risk Of catastrophe
for everyone. yourself included.
Europe is on fire. Our country may
get scorched in an effort to assist
In extinguishing the fire. But 10
turn our backs upon the fire and
to pretend it is not there is to con,
vert the possibility OF being scorched
INTO II certainty of being burned.
FOR our part. we applaud Mr.
Ba'dwin's appreciation of this trutf
and his courage in facing 1t. Mr.
Baldwin's position is difficult. II,
Is handicapped by tho acts OF hi,
predecessors; by his Dle-Hard sun
porters; by the fact that som
members of his own governmen
were also members OF the coalition
by the attempts of some Of his col
leagues 10 run a foreign policy o
their own; and above all, by III,
jungle of f~alsehoods and make.be
lieves in which the issues involve,
have lived. moved, and had thei
being for so long and which stil
exists to confuse the mind.
But Mr.. Baldwin has done the In
dispensab'e thing. He has rens
serted the right and the intention
OF this country to participate in IN,
councils OF Europe, He has repudi
ated the role OF a mere spectator OF
Europe's progressive ruin. For thai
h country is indebted 10 him.
A Menace TO Peace
The chief merit Of the British
note is that It puts an end to a
situation which had become intoler.
able. For tho past eight months
we had been indirect accompllccs
in a policy which apart from its
other aspects. is plunglng Europe
In economic chaos. Our position
was humiliating. Our advice was
brushed aside. our legitimate in.
terests ignored. Beneath tho sur.
face n condition of affairs was ma
turing Of the gravest kind. involv.
ing n steadily Increasing menace
TO pence tho longer II remained OF.
hcially unchallenged by a British
government.
The crucial problem which now
confronts Europe is whether the
economic and political life Of the
Continent is to be allowed to revive