Evening star., 1923-11-25
by OLIVER OWEN KUHN.

NTO the caldron Of politics the des-
TIMES Of at least three European
nations were cast during the past
week.
In England the statesmen of the
realm are going about the business OF
convincing the people that England's
future rests upon definite espousal of
certain European courses. Upon final
determination depends in large meas
ure just how far England will go in
striving to counteract i'll effects of
past policies which have permitted
France to gain ascendancy upon the
| continent.
In Germany, Chancellor Stresemann
was overthrown with political lines
drawn pretty tightly to both the right
and the left, indicating continued
civil turmoil until it is pretty def
niteIy established whether the social
lists or the nationalists and mon
archists are to control the future
destinieS of the nation or whether the
republic is to survive.
| In France, Premier Poincare, no
Longer dwelling upon reparation pay
ments for Germany. but predicating
the stand of the French govern
ment upon determined effort to main
tain the safety of France against
future Germanic incursion. and de-
termination to remain upon the left
bank of the Rhine and in the Ruhr
for this purpose, won vote of con-
fidence.
Anything May Happen.
Anything may happen as the result
of political trends, but it is believed
certain that the next two months will
see strong development of national
istic feeling and effort in England
such as may bring serious challenge
to French purpose. And this, despite
the apparent close working agree
ment effected during the past week
between the French and English in
the dispatch of notes to the German
government on the questions of the
interallied military control commits
sion and the presence of the former
crown prince in Germany.
| In view of the recent entente cor
dale in the council of ambassadors,
| where, after much negotiation, the
allies united in common purpose,
4
accordance with that of Great Brit
ain, who refused to threaten sanctions
against Germany, conjecture in re-
gard to England's future position is
interesting, even though 1t may in
Ilarge measure be futile.
In the English political campaign
today there is marked cleavage be-
tween the two most important groups,
the liberals and conservatives, most
ly, however, upon domestic issues.
Premier Stanley Baldwin is commit
ted to a tariff and mainly upon this
issue the results of the campaign
! rest But in the campaign the for
eign policies of recent British gov
ernments are entering more largely
and undoubtedly will be lurking in
the minds of the British voters when
they cast their ballots for or against
the present regime. Premier Bald
win has committed himself to the
preservation of British interest upon
the continent, but Notwithstanding
this the people feel, and the premier's s
political enemies continue to avow, he,
by complacency, has permitted France
, TO gam the upper idilt III 'piiNlAI'i IL al
matters. The largest single antaso-
| nistic force arrayed against the
| premier is Lloyd George working CO.
operatively with former Premier
Asquith in liberal ranks. They as
sail the government both in domestic
issues and foreign. 1t is an estab-
lished fact that should the liberals
win at the polls there will be a
STRENGTHENING of Britain's demands
upon France against continued CO.
ercive measures against Germany,
which, they believe, are leading to
complete German downfall with con-
sequent loss of hope of ever reVlv-
ing. This to England means dis
astrous results from commercial
standpoint.
should Premier Baldwin be returned
the Lloyd George liberals insist that
England's continental interests will
be bartered away. Baldwin con-
servatives counter that, in preserva-
tion of the entente, England in
reality has worked for continental
progress and better order, particular
Iy now that the French have shown
a measure of resiliency in govern
mental policies.
Stand Being Determined.
But, whatever be the arguments on
either side, it is definitely recognized
that Britain's future stand in con-
tinental affairs is being largely de-
termned in the campaign, and should
the liberals with their demands of
more determined foreign policy be
returned, then any agreements or
understandings that may have been
effected recently will be futile If
they do not embrace French con-
sultation of the British viewpoint.
But that the British would go up
against a stone wall is indicated by
the ready response of the French
chamber in a vote of confidence to
Poincare embracing as it did perpet-
uation of the past firm French stand
point.
/ Curiously enough, at the same
juncture, is the statement of the
London Times, supposedly rejecting
the British viewpoint, when 1T says:
France has had her way. Her
curiously systematic and coldly
logical effort is nearing its goal. A
new political and economic entity
is making its appearance in Europe
nodded and dominated by France. A
new Europe is being shaped at our
doors. What really matters in the
coming election is the position the
British empire is to occupy in the
rapidly changing world-a world that
has broken loose from all accepted