Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-11-16
BY FRANK H. sIMONDs.

IA
NV net, the European stage Is
once more set for a few
years, barring, of course,
some possible accident. Two Of the
three great countries-and with Rus
sia out Of the world and Mussolint
enErossed In domestic problems for
Italy, there are only Britain, France
and Germany left among the great
powers of Europe-have now parlia-
ments which In the nature of things
should last for at least five years.
When Germany has had its December
election then the situation will be
clear and definite.
By an odd irony Of things France
has liberal, moderately radical par
aiament. elected under the influence
OF the British labor triumph, while
The British arc one move ahead and
have passed out of the radical phase
into one rather striking reaction.
Germany, on the other hand, had
until the recent dissolution of the
Reichestag, parliament elected
under the shadow of the Ruhr occu-
patton and at once communistic and
reaotionary; that Is to say, distinct
i've because its membership was
largely the result OF the triumph of
extremiSta
An Outstanding Problem.
outstanding problem in Europe is:
What are to be the relations Of
France and Britain under the new
domestic conditions in both coun-
tries? In the nature OF things the
Tory party has been the British po-
llttcal organization most sympathetic
and friendly with France. 1t was a
Tory premier, as Lord Balfour re-
minded the Washington conference,
who was responsible for the creation
or the entente cordiale. And 1t was
the tnterposition Of the Tory leaders
at the critical moment in 1914 which
insured British support to France in
the World War when the Liberal
party was hesitating and divided
nevertheless 1t has been the Tory
leaders who have quarreled with
france. and the present renewed
friendly relations are the direct con-
sequence of the skill and effort Of a
Labor prime minister. who opposed
British entrance into the war and was
expected to display pronounced Ger
manophfle sympathies while in the
Foreign office. Not since the war has
there been anything like the friendly
and almost affectionate relations be-
tween Macdonald and Herriot
VI course, the real root of Franco
British disagreements lies in the OBJ
Niously divergent interests Of the two
countries. But this divergence has
been gravely accentuated by the per-
sonal animosities of individuals. Lloyd
George. having been almost idolized
In France during the latter part of
the war. came, in the period of the
peace conference and the immediately
succeeding International gatherings,
TO be hated in France almost more
than any German. He was regarded
as having sacrificed France to Ger
w in
terial interests, and the national re-
sentiment resulted in the overthrow
OF BRAND and the calling Of Poincare
What New Premiers Meant.
Poincare accomplished the task his
countrymen expected of him, his course
with regard to the Genoa conference
destroyed Lloyd Georges prestige
abroad and contributed nightly to
the upset at homo which followed
But the coming Of Bonar Law did not
improve the situation, for although
the new prime minister was friend
OF France, he had scarcely taken of
flee when the French occupation of
the Ruhr opened a new breach be-
tween Britain and France
Bonar Law offered no obstacle to
the French occupation but, yielding
soon to Stanley Baldwin. disappeared
from the scene. Baldwin at first fol-
: pwed his predecessors course but
turzon in the foreign office began
cry shortly that verbal duel with
'oincare which brought Anglo French
citations to. an even worse condition
1lan they were under Lloyd George.
What was quite as disastrous from
fhe British point of view, the French
ltuation on the continent rapidly
approved and France found herself
surrounded by states which shared
lor views, Belgium, which marched
into the ruhr: Poland, Czecho- slo-
Iakta and the little entente generally.
Even Italy, at the Paris conference
Which preceded the Ruhr occupation
bad Joined France in rejecting Brit
1&h offers as the Italian representa-
live on the reparations commission
had joined France and Belgium in
Yrocla!ming Germany in willful de-
fault.
Temporary Truce Produced.
The agreement Of France and Brit
ain In the matter of the creation Of
the Dawes commission had produced
g. temporary truce, at the moment
when the Baldwin cabinet went out
of Office, following its tremendous de-
feat over the tariff proposal, but at
best it was no more than truce and
british newspaper denunciation of
the French policy in the Ruhr
and toward Germany generally had
reached an extraordinary pitch. And
tho French press were hardly less re-
sentful.
With Macdonald the change was
immediate and the improvement con-
tinuous, even before Poincare retired
foHuwing the Spring elections his
yefAttons with Macdonald had become
CordfHi, as they never wero with
either Lloyd George or CurZon, and he
had agreed to como to Chequers for
q week end, an invitation subsequent
~ accepted by Herriot Had Poin-
care won at the election it is far from
improbable that AngloFrench rela-
lions would have improved, but the
arrival OF Herriot gave the British
Labor prime minister a man of his
own political stripe to do business
with and he took immediate advan-
iage of the opportunity.
The mutual regard OF Macdonald
and Herriot was the main explana-
ton Of the London conference, which
launched the Dawes plan. The oo'
stacles In the pathway were enor.
NOUS, concessions OF an almost I'm
possible character had to be made
on both sides. but not only did the
I,rench and British como to com
,rete agreement, but the very fac
~ their agreement left the Germans
With no other resource than to &C
cant tho decisions already reached
rThus tho London conference turned
out the one completely successful
,neetins since the war, and even the
GERMAN Reichstag, after prolonged
resistance, swallowed It's decisions.
Cooperation at Geneva.
This agreement of London was fol-