Evening star., 1923-08-05
BY 4. G. GARDNER,
Britain's Greatest Liberal Editor.

By Cable TO The Star.
LONDON, August 4.-Perhaps new
er before in the history of the United
States has a new President faced
such a maze of disconcerting events
abroad as that which confronts CAL
vim Coolidge. the new executive of
the American people. He takes office
when the future of Europe it at the
darkest pitch. Will America, under
his tutelage, take more active part
in world affairs?
This is d question which intrudes
itself into any discussion or thought
of the future. The entente is stone
dead. Parliament never convened in
such an atmosphere of gloom as per
vaded Westminster Thursday. In
deed, not since the memorable Au-
gust 8. 1914, has a statement from
the treasury bench created such a
somber impression on the country as
that caused by the speeches OF Primo
Minister Baldwin and Foreign Secre-
tary Curzon. They disclosed the
complete failure of Baldwin's efforts
to induce Poincare to agree to a
joint allied reply to the German offer
Of June I. a few hours later came
II.
Harding. There was no analogy be-
tween the two, save common misfor-
tune and the possible effect on fu-
ture events.
Unpleaxant Feeling.
The character of the negotiations
between the French and British has
not been disclosed, for Mr.. Baldwin
has not published the documents. But
his significant statement that France
failed to reply to the British draft of
the proposed allied reply to Germany
has created an unpleasant feeling.
What follows? First, the entente is
gone. Poincare no longer needs it
and is confident of his power to defy
all opposition and to pursue single
handed the policy of breaking up
Germany. His delaying action has
succeeded in preventing for two
months any reply from the allies to
Germany. In that interval, dsinte-
grafton in Germany has advanced by
leaps and bounds and anarchy is i'm
minent.
1t is not clear from Baldwin's state
ment what his next step will be- He
spoke vaguely Of the continuation of
negotiations with France. but it is
universally realized that this is mere
temporizlng. Moreover, il is danger
Gus temporizing for the longer Eng
land fails to give a definite lead the
more feeble becomes her position
Baldwin's situation is desperately diff
ficult. a large section of the con-
servative die hards," under the daily
frenzy Of the Harmsworth press, is
f1ogging him from behind TO accept
dlctation from Poincare and TO join
in crushing Germany. If he takes
strong action to the contrary il is
conceivable that he may be unhorsed
by these wild men. His own views
clear and decisive, are that the
French policy in running Europe will
ruin France. too. His chief support
comes not from his own ranks but
from the trading community and the
opposition leaders.
VIII he have the courage to repIy
70 Germany separately. accepting the
proposed international inquiry into
reparations? That is his own wish.
In such a course he is assured of the
friendly attitude of Italy and. in a
large measure, Belgian sympathy.
How far, however, Belgium will ven
ture to assume the appearance of an
tagonizing France is doubtful
One is bound to face the fact that
friendly reply TO the German gov
ernment will be the final nail in the
coffin OF Anglo-F French relations. But
the alternative is unthinkable. II
would mean that England, as a DO